Solitary could be a very hard habit to break.
“Hush now, darlin’, hush. Whatever it is, we’ll fix it,” Lucas had crooned. The depth of the older man’s feelings for Maddy matched what Chase knew to be his feelings for himself. Lucas may not say much, but his emotions ran true and deep.
Now as Chase sat on Maddy’s left side, he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. Lucas sat on her right, a hand on her back, rubbing gently.
“Why don’t you start by telling us about that photograph?” Chase asked quietly. “You bought drugs?”
Maddy nodded her head, and took a moment to wipe her eyes on the hankie Lucas had given her.
“I’m not sure when it was taken. It could have been at any time during the last six months of dad’s life.”
“Go on,” Lucas urged.
Maddy took a sip from her coffee, then set it down and rubbed both palms on her jeans. “You remember, Lucas, how sick Dad got that last year?”
“I do.”
She turned to Chase. “The strokes he’d suffered in the last couple of years had left him…changed. Surly and difficult. He couldn’t get around that well, which made everything worse. And he was in so much pain.” She paused now, let her gaze wander out the kitchen window. Chase wondered if she envisioned those days, seeing again the deterioration of her only parent.
“I’d asked Doctor Albertson—Doc Morton in Marshville had passed on Dad’s care to him over in Colorado Springs—anyway, I’d asked the Doctor to prescribe stronger pain medication for dad, but he didn’t believe in managing pain that way. He thought Dad should be taken to pain management classes, so that he could learn how to live with ‘the discomfort’.”
“What was this guy, a fucking moron?” Chase couldn’t keep the anger out of his tone. He felt pissed for both Maddy and her father. No one should have to suffer through such pain when medication was available and could help. Plus, he could well imagine how hard living with Robert Dalton had become for Maddy in that last half year. Yeah, the man had treated Chase pretty well, but he’d never been overly pleasant in is treatment of his daughter, and Chase had been aware of that.
“He just didn’t understand, and Doc Morton wasn’t about to step on his colleague’s toes.”
“So you went out and got what he needed off the street?”
“I had to. I didn’t think I had any choice. It took me a while to find someone who could help. I finally met someone who knew someone who could get me pain meds for dad without a prescription.”
“Damn it, Maddy!”
“I’m sorry Chase, I know it was illegal but—”
“Screw illegal. I don’t give a flying fuck about illegal. What you did was dangerous. Damn it all to hell, sweetheart, people who deal drugs aren’t the safest people to be around.”
“It’s not like the guy was selling cocaine or acid. I bought morphine, and some other pain killers. But mostly morphine.”
The look on her face, innocent bewilderment, just made Chase’s blood run cold with fear. My God, the woman hadn’t even realized what she’d been doing.
Lucas must have come to the same conclusion. “Maddy, the guy wasn’t selling you cocaine or acid. But he was a drug dealer—you can bet he had a whole menu of illegal substances. And likely was a very dangerous man.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, ‘oh’.” Just the thought that something seriously bad could have happened to Maddy and he’d have been unable to do anything about it—hell he wouldn’t have even known about it because he’d been dragging his ass coming home—made Chase close his eyes for a long moment. He’d brushed up against the world inhabited by those who had little regard for human dignity or human life, those who had no scruples and no compunction against hurting innocents. He knew what could happen to the ill-prepared and the unsuspecting in this world. Knowing how close Maddy had really come to being another statistic made him want to puke.
“That’s done,” Lucas said in his quiet, no-nonsense way. “And, fortunately, you came through that without becoming another victim.”
His gaze met Lucas’s. It shouldn’t surprise him that Lucas, who claimed not to be able to read people well, could read him. Knowing he could was a wonderful, comforting feeling.
Because he needed the contact, he reached out and stroked Maddy’s head. “There’s still the photograph,” Chase said. “Who sent it to you?”
“Kevin Marsh brought it the other day.”
Chase had to hang on to his temper with both hands as Maddy told them about Marsh’s visit the day he and Lucas had gone into Gunnison.
“He’s given me until Sunday. I either agree to marry him and turn this ranch over to him, or he sends that photograph to Attorney-General Beecham. Maybe you don’t know, because you’ve been out of the state, but this guy is building a solid reputation of being a hard-ass about cracking down on the drug culture in Colorado. His news conferences have been all over the television the last few months. My, um, dealer actually is in prison right now as a result of a state-wide sting operation that Beecham spear-headed. Well, according to Marsh he is, at any rate.”
“I’ve a good mind to drive into town and break that little prick’s fucking legs.” Lucas sounded even angrier than he had been the night before.
“If I thought it would be any kind of real solution, I’d help you.” Chase sent a smile of commiseration over to the other man.
“What am I going to do? It’s Thursday already. Sunday is coming up pretty damn fast.”
“You’re sure as hell not going to marry Kevin Marsh or turn this ranch over to him.” Lucas’s tone brooked no argument, not that Chase thought Maddy would give him one.
“Of course not,” she agreed quickly. “But you know him. He’ll probably make good on his threat. What am I going to do?”
She looked on the verge of breaking down again. “What you are going to do is trust us,” Chase said quietly. “Right now, you’re beat. Did you get any sleep at all last night?” Lucas had been right, she did look like hell.
“No. I was too upset. I’m sorry. I...I didn’t mean to hurt you guys.”
“Hush, baby. Don’t worry about that. Now the first order of business is for you get some rest. Lucas, maybe you could take Maddy back to her place and take care of her?” He only had to meet Lucas’s gaze for a moment for the other man to understand his meaning. Chase half expected Maddy to bitch at him again for referring to her in the third person with her sitting right there. And didn’t know what to think when she just sat there looking…lost.
“Maddy?”
When she turned her attention to him, he leaned over and kissed her again. “I’m going to make some phone calls, see if I can get us a clearer picture of the situation, and what our options might be. Then later, after you’ve slept, we’ll have a look at what we’ve got, and see if we can come up with a good plan. Nothing happens unless you approve. All right?”
“Yes, all right.”
He could see by the look on her face that wasn’t what she’d expected to have happen at all. Clearly she’d believed that he and Lucas would simply steam-roll over her. Maddy was operating under a lot of misconceptions.
First they’d deal with Mister Sleaze. Then they’d work on the rest of those misconceptions.
* * * *
Kevin stared down at the message slip his secretary had left on his desk before taking her worthless ass off to lunch. Barnes wanted him to call, and he’d had Maebelle mark the message ‘urgent’.
He swallowed hard, then crumpled the slip and tossed it into the trash. He could say he never got the message. Yes, that’s what he’d do. He’d even fire the bitch to back up his claim.
But Barnes would still expect to hear from him. He couldn’t go around forever with his cell phone turned off, dodging messages. For one, he was an important man, everybody in Marshville knew that. Important men always got calls on their cell phones, wherever they went. If he’d only thought ahead and paid extra for it, he could have h
ad the service that would have allowed him to have Barnes’ number blocked. Maybe he’d look into that. Important men controlled who had access to them.
Kevin hunched his shoulders, trying to slide away from the tension. He shouldn’t have given Maddy so much time to make her decision. Should have gotten her in the house, alone, is what I should have done. Those two assholes from last Saturday hadn’t been in sight. I should have taken advantage of their absence, gotten her inside the house. Then I could have persuaded her. One thing he knew for certain. The moment he had a ring on her finger, he would show her the proper way for a woman to behave. And he’d throw in a few rounds with his belt as payment for the trouble she’d given him so far.
He had no doubt she would be his wife, and in short order, too. A woman without male kin, she had no choice but to accept his offer. What else could she do? She sure as hell wouldn’t deny him. Not at the price of her freedom.
In the meantime, he only had to avoid speaking to Barnes for another few days. How hard could that be?
The phone rang, and Kevin just stared at it. Telling himself he wasn’t afraid, he just shouldn’t be lowering himself to answering his own phone, he scooped his hat off the credenza behind him, and headed out.
Lunch time was a busy time in town. He’d take a drive down Main Street, let everyone see him. Maybe he’d stop by the florist, pick up whatever posies they had on sale and take them out to his Aunt Verna.
The only flowers he really wanted to buy that old bitch would be for her coffin. His Aunt Verna held tightly to the purse strings these days, which was the reason Kevin had decided to sell his land—well, his and Maddy’s—to Barnes Developments in the first place.
Why his father had to up and leave most of the family assets under the control of his dried up old prune of a sister, Kevin would never understand. He could only be grateful that both his Auntie and the lawyer who managed the accounts had such taciturn personalities. Everyone thought he raked in the profits from the seed and feed, and from his real estate business. It wasn’t general knowledge that Kevin had been left dependent on his Aunt for a salary in return for actually overseeing the family businesses.
Kevin had nearly resigned himself to his dismal fate until late last year. Rick Barnes, a land developer from New York City, had visited the area looking for land suitable to build a resort. Kevin’s mother’s uncle had left him what had at one time been the family ranch, land adjacent to the Dalton spread. At the time of his inheritance, Kevin had been pissed. What the hell was he supposed to do with a small parcel of land? The ranch house was tiny, in disrepair. The barn wasn’t much better. Uncle Crawford had sold off what stock he’d had years before. When the old boy had croaked, the land had passed to Kevin. Like he was ever going to be a rancher.
Not in this life.
Kevin knew the value of the small spread, and it wasn’t much. Neither of the ranchers on either side of the place—the Daltons or the Comstocks—had shown any interest in buying the place.
But when Rick Barnes had wandered into his real estate office last year, asking about available properties, it had started Kevin thinking.
The amount of acreage Barnes wanted surpassed the pissant spread his uncle had left him; but if he added in the Dalton place, especially when he considered the stream that ran through both places, and that hot spring of Maddy’s—why, then he had something worth offering the developer.
So a deal had been struck, Kevin had received that hefty down payment, and there remained just one tiny detail left to be seen to.
Kevin had to get his hands on Maddy Dalton’s ranch.
The only way he’d thought of to do that was to marry the bitch. Not that he would mind, necessarily. He figured an ignorant country bimbo like her would be grateful someone offered for her. He wouldn’t mind fucking her, really. And she’d been so damn high and mighty with him—just like that old broad Verna—he’d enjoy giving her the discipline she needed. She’d learn her place if he had anything to say about it.
Funny, but Barnes hadn’t batted an eye when he’d discovered Kevin had negotiated the deal behind Maddy’s back. He didn’t seem to care how he got the land, just as long as he got it.
Clouds had blown in since that morning, and the day had turned overcast. Kevin got into his car, taking the time to put the windows up. Wouldn’t do to get rain in the Caddy.
Yes, he’d buy flowers for Aunt Verna and tell her that there were nuptials on the horizon. The old bitch would likely be beside herself with joy. How often did she nag him about getting married? Just about every chance she got. If he knew Verna, she’d approve of Maddy, too. One stone cold bossy bitch would certainly appreciate another.
He’d tell the old biddy that he and his newly betrothed would come by for a visit Sunday evening. A smile split his face as he realized that he could likely get the old bat to give him a few thousand dollars if he hinted at the fact he didn’t yet have a ring.
Women, Kevin Marsh groused as he headed his Caddy toward the florist shop at the other end of town, were simple creatures. He’d sweet talk the old one, discipline the young one, and soon his life would be damn near perfect.
Chapter Twelve
There had been many times in the past when Maddy seemed stressed, when she’d looked like what she needed more than anything else in the world was some old fashioned tender loving care. During those times, Lucas had cursed himself for a coward, too afraid to step up and take care of her the way he longed to. He’d been too afraid that once he built a relationship with her, she would somehow sense the secret desire locked deep inside him—the desire for man flesh—and be repulsed by him, turn him away.
What a miracle that he could step in now, take care of her, and follow his heart.
Lucas closed the door behind them and steered Maddy into one of the kitchen chairs. “I’m going to run a hot bath for you, sweetheart.”
“You don’t have to,” she replied quietly. “Now that I’ve told you guys what’s been weighing me down, now that I know you don’t hate me, I’ll be fine. I do feel better. Knowing that you’re going to help me, that I’m not alone…it’s better. I’m just so tired. I just need to sleep.”
Lucas crouched in front of her. “Would you spoil my fun? I’ve wanted to pamper you, it seems like forever. Likely some day in the future, I’ll need you to pamper me. But today, this is my turn to have a small dream of mine come true. Would you deny me that?”
Maddy’s eyes unexpectedly filled with tears, and one drop overflowed, the track down her cheek glistening. “I’m really an ungrateful bitch, aren’t I? I don’t mean to be.”
“Shh. You’re not.” It tore Lucas’s heart to see her like this. But the way he had it figured, she’d been long overdue to let things go. He didn’t know a lot about women, but he did know they were built differently than men, on the inside. Men seemed to have an easier time soldiering on without breaking down; not that men didn’t feel emotions every bit as deeply as women. They just seemed better suited to suppressing life’s bumps and bruises and pains. Women, on the other hand, seemed to need the cleansing balm of tears. Maddy had held hers back so long, she’d probably need longer to get them all out.
He kissed her and then headed for the bathroom. Rooting around, he couldn’t find any of the fussy stuff women sometimes added to their baths for ritual or for comfort. So he ran a tub of very warm water and added a generous dollop of shampoo.
Lucas returned to the kitchen, his heart squeezing a little when he saw Maddy sitting exactly as he’d left her. That was a measure of her exhaustion. He stopped in front of her and gently helped her to her feet.
“Come on.”
When they were in the bathroom, he undressed her and helped her into the tub.
“You lie back and let me take care of you. Okay?”
“You’re going to bathe me? Are you going to tuck me in, too?”
“Eventually,” he replied.
“No one’s ever done that for me.”
He had
the soap and cloth in hand when those words, whispered, nailed him hard in the gut. Everyone deserved to be coddled from time to time. He was looking forward to when it would be his turn. For the moment, though, he focused his attention on Maddy.
“My good fortune, then, that I get to be the first. Now just lay back and relax.”
“You touching me all over isn’t exactly going to make me relax.”
Lucas chuckled, pleased to see the spark of humor in her eyes. “Oh, I promise you that it will, eventually.”
* * * *
Maddy shivered in response to the unbelievably soft brush of soapy cloth against her breasts. The expression on Lucas’ face as he slowly bathed her was one of absolute absorption. Never before had she been the center of someone’s attention this way. Her confession to her lovers and the decision she’d made to let someone else be in control for a while, coupled with them wanting to care for her eased her heart. Warm water soothed her muscles; fragrant bubbles soothed her senses; but Lucas’ delicious touch subtly lit the fire of her arousal.
“Close your eyes, darlin’. Just feel what I’m doing to you. Let this be the only thing in your world.”
She easily complied with the request. Easy, because doing so brought such pleasure. Everywhere he touched came alive with a sultry, satiny need for him. Whenever he’d touched her since that first time, she’d sensed a singular, fierce focus in him. Chase, as a lover, was energetic and playful. Lucas was reverent.
No one had ever given her this kind of attention, this kind of care. He touched and bathed and caressed as if the only thing he wanted in the entire world was to make her feel good. The last of her tension evaporated, and with it the darkness that had always been trapped in the depths of her soul.
“Open your legs for me, Maddy.”
Oh, God. Lucas’ fingers trailed the edge of the cloth, finding and teasing her clit until she writhed with need. Cupping his hands, he scooped water over her to rinse her. Bending over the edge of the tub, he captured her lips with his own.
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