She wanted to ask him why it wasn’t a good idea for them to kiss. He’d stirred her like nothing else she’d experienced in her entire life. But it was obvious he was uncomfortable with any more discussion on the matter.
“Go sit at the table and I’ll get lunch,” she told him. She needed to do something to take her mind off how much she’d loved being in Flint’s arms and having his lips on hers. And if she wasn’t thinking about that she’d be worrying about Brad and what was going to happen when he learned she’d gone to the police about his beating and rape of her.
She fixed them sandwiches and thankfully, their conversation revolved around nothing important. “Don’t you have to go back to work at the ranch this afternoon?” she asked when they were finished eating.
“Not if you need for me to hang around here,” he replied.
Oh, she wanted him to hang around here. There was a simmering fear deep inside her now that she’d spoken to the police. She didn’t want to be all alone here, but she also knew Flint had gone above and beyond for her already and she couldn’t ask anything more from him. She had to be strong.
“I love your company, but you need to get back to work. You have done everything in your power to make sure I stay safe here and I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ll just see you for dinner.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” His gaze searched her features.
She forced a bright smile. “Definitely. Now, go on, get out of here and make sure you thank all the men who helped us this morning.” She walked with him to the door.
“Then I guess I’ll see you for dinner, but if anything happens...if you get scared for any reason, you call me and I’ll be right back here.”
“Thanks, Flint...for everything.”
He smiled, that sexy slide of lips that made her want to lean into him and kiss him all over again. “I’m really proud of you, Madison. You’re a beautiful, strong woman and I’m glad I found you hiding out in the barn.” With those words he turned around and headed toward his truck.
She closed and locked the door behind him as a wealth of emotion pressed tight against her chest. She would soon be four months pregnant with her rapist’s baby and she was precariously close to falling in love with a handsome, strong cowboy named Flint McCay. It would be so easy to envision him as her forever cowboy.
Mac had told her that Flint had built this place as somewhere to get away from everything and everyone. She knew he had built it for a time when he’d stop working on the Holiday Ranch. But she could see herself here with him, not just temporarily, but forever.
Two weeks before she’d run from her trailer, she had finally gotten up the nerve to venture out of her home. She’d gone to the library and had begun reading some self-help books on rape and victimization.
As she’d sat at one of the computers late one afternoon, she’d begun to weep. One of the young librarians, Amy Leyton, had come over to the desk to check on her.
Amy instantly noticed what book she was reading and without prying, she had offered not only a comforting hug, but also a recommendation of an online support group.
Madison had instantly joined the group and for the next two days she had spent hours not only “talking” to other victims, but also claiming back some of her sense of self.
She still had a long way to go toward complete healing, but when this was over she would see a therapist to help her heal even more.
She was scared of Brad Ainsworth, but she was also afraid that she was such damaged goods that no good man would ever want her.
Flint might be kind to her, he even might be sexually attracted to her, but she had a feeling she would never be his forever kind of woman and right now...at this very moment...that made her incredibly sad.
* * *
All Flint could think about as he worked throughout the afternoon was kissing Madison. Her lips had been so soft and inviting. He’d not only wanted to continue kissing her, but he’d also wanted to take her into his bedroom and make slow, sweet love to her and that desire stunned him.
I’ve been wanting it. Her words played and replayed through his mind. She’d shocked him when she’d said that. She’d shocked him and created a roaring fire inside him at the same time.
He should be ashamed of himself for even entertaining such heated thoughts about her, but that didn’t stop him from thinking about it. She was so charming, so beautiful, and it was only natural that he would be attracted to her.
He was the wrong man for her. She wanted a cowboy as her forever man, and once her issues here were settled and she moved from his cabin, he would quit his job here at the ranch and he wouldn’t be a cowboy anymore.
Besides, at the moment she was all alone in the world. She was grateful to Flint for taking her in, for being kind to her. It was probably that gratefulness that had made her want to kiss him.
Hopefully, Brad Ainsworth would be arrested soon and when that happened Madison would be free to go back to her trailer and resume her normal life. It would be nice if when that happened they could part ways as good friends.
She was the first woman he’d ever known who he felt comfortable around. He’d never been able to talk so easily to a woman as he was able to talk to Madison.
His emotions where she was concerned were so confusing. He liked her a lot, but she also stirred a rich desire in him that he’d never felt before.
She had been violently violated by Brad, and Flint would shoot himself if he thought that anything he did somehow violated her even more. That was the very last thing he’d ever want to do.
“Hey, Flint.”
Flint looked up from the harness he’d been oiling to see Sawyer Quincy. “Hi, Sawyer.”
Sawyer was the ranch foreman and one of the men Flint considered his brother. The sandy-haired man had recently married Janis Little, a woman who worked as a waitress at the Watering Hole. He’d moved off the ranch and now lived with Janis in a house they’d bought in town. He was also one of the cowboys who had gone into the police station that morning with Madison.
“How is Maddy doing after this afternoon?” Sawyer asked.
“She’s okay, although scared now that she’s gone to the police.” Flint frowned as a rich rage filled his head. “I’d love to get hold of Brad and beat the living hell out of him. But I know once I started hitting him, I wouldn’t be able to stop until he was near death.”
“And then you’d be in jail and Madison would be all on her own,” Sawyer replied.
“That’s the only reason I won’t go after him,” Flint replied darkly.
Sawyer shook his head. “I can’t believe Brad Ainsworth is such a sick son of a bitch. He’s been like the golden boy in town with all his charity work and good deeds.”
“It’s not the first time we’ve all been fooled by an evil man,” Flint replied as his heart constricted with a sense of betrayal.
“You’re talking about Adam,” Sawyer said.
Flint nodded. Adam Benson had been one of the men Flint and the others had grown up with, a man they had considered their brother until it was revealed that he was a serial killer with a sick soul.
All the men had been stunned when it was learned that he’d killed half a dozen boys when they’d been young. He’d killed them and then buried them on the property. It was only when work was started on a new shed that the skeletal remains had been revealed.
The police investigation had been stymied until as an adult Adam had gone after Cassie with an ax. Thankfully, Dillon had gotten to her in time to save her life and she and Dillon had been together ever since.
None of the other “boys” had seen the killer in Adam. None of them had even seen a glimpse of the evil inside him. When his crimes had finally come to light, it had felt like such a deep betrayal.
“I guess you never know if there’s evil in a man’s heart unless he somehow shows it,” Sawye
r said.
“Brad showed his to a vulnerable woman who trusted him for a simple ride home on a rainy night.” Flint’s hands clenched into fists at his sides as the rage reared its head inside him once again.
“You have to trust that Dillon will get this right, Flint,” Sawyer said. “Meanwhile, how are you doing? I’ve occasionally heard you groan a bit as you get up from the table at breakfast.”
A wave of embarrassment swept through Flint but he forced what he hoped was an easy smile. “Oh, you know...all those years of bull-riding are starting to catch up with me. I’ve got a little arthritis in my hip.”
Sawyer grinned. “I think we’re all starting to feel the foolishness of our youth. My shoulder still hurts on rainy days since I tried to arm-wrestle with Jerod two years ago.”
Flint laughed. “As I recall, you challenged him about fifteen times looking for a win.”
“And fifteen times he put me down,” Sawyer said with a hearty laugh. He clapped Flint on the back and then looked at his watch. “I just wanted to check in with you and it’s late enough in the day that if you just want to knock off, then I’ll see you in the morning.”
As soon as Sawyer left the stable, Flint began to put his work tools away. When he was finished, he walked outside and noticed Dillon’s patrol car was parked in front of the house. He was either home for dinner or was taking a break.
Instead of heading to the vehicle shed to get his truck, he walked to the large, white, two-story house that Cassie and Dillon called home. He wanted to check in with Dillon before he went to the cabin to spend the evening with Madison.
Cassie answered the knock on the back door. She was a pretty, petite blonde who ran the ranch with an iron fist, just like big Cass, who had left the place to her.
“Flint.” She smiled warmly and opened the door wider. “Come on in.”
He walked into the kitchen where Dillon was seated at the table with a cup of coffee before him. “Hi, Flint. I just stopped by to see my wife before hitting the road again.” He gestured toward the chair opposite him.
“Coffee?” Cassie asked him.
“No, thanks. I’m good.” He sat across from Dillon. “I was just wondering if you’d had a chance to interview Brad and if there was anything I could take back to Madison.”
“I did speak with Brad and he immediately denied the charges.”
“Of course he did,” Flint said with disgust. “Did he mention having any idea why Madison would file these ‘false’ charges against him?”
“Actually, he did. He said that he knew Maddy had a big crush on him and when she asked him to have dinner with her, he turned her down and told her he had no interest in her. He said she’s obviously made up this story to get back at him.”
“What a load of horse crap,” Flint replied. “So what happens now?”
“Right now it’s a he said-she said situation. I’ll be talking to any woman Brad has dated in the past to see what their experiences were with him. I’ll also be talking to his friends to see if I can gain any information that will move the investigation forward,” Dillon said. “I’m also checking with everyone at the trailer park to see if anyone saw Brad on either night that Maddy said he was there.”
Dillon paused and took a drink from his coffee cup. He set the cup back down and frowned at Flint. “I’ve got to tell you, this case would have been so much easier if Maddy had come forward immediately when it happened. Then we would have had DNA evidence and since she said that Brad beat her there would have been evidence of that, as well. With that we could have built a strong case. It’s problematic that this happened over three months ago.”
“But unfortunately that didn’t happen. She didn’t report it at the time. She was too frightened to come forward.” Flint sighed. It sounded like this was all going to take some time before Brad would be behind bars. Certainly more time than Madison had thought.
“As long as Madison is safely hidden away at my cabin, we’ll get through this, and I have to believe that justice will be served.”
“As chief of police, that’s always my goal,” Dillon replied. “Trust me, Flint. I’m taking this case very seriously. I’m going to speak with the DA and see if he will proceed to take the case right now and then I can get Brad under arrest.”
“That would definitely make Madison rest easier.”
“And please tell Maddy she’s in my thoughts and prayers,” Cassie added.
“Thanks, I will.” Flint stood. “I won’t take up any more of your time.”
Dillon got up from the table, too. “I’ll be in touch with you if I learn anything more.”
Minutes later Flint was on his way back to the cabin. Madison wasn’t going to be happy when he told her Brad’s side of the story, but she needed to know what he’d said. Hopefully, the DA would agree to move the case forward.
On another note, it also bothered him that apparently he’d been moaning and groaning enough with his pain that Sawyer had taken notice. Maybe it was time for him to check out that prescription the doctor had written out for him.
He shoved this thought out of his mind. Right now he had to focus on Madison and her needs. He wanted her to feel safe. He wanted to keep her safe. However, as he drew closer to the cabin and a desire began to simmer in the pit of his stomach, he wondered if right now the man he needed to protect her from was himself.
* * *
Brad sat on the sofa in his perfectly decorated apartment. He was proud of his personal space, just as he was proud of the life he’d been building in Bitterroot.
In his day-to-day life he worked as a successful insurance salesman, but his ultimate goal was to step into his father’s shoes as mayor of the small town.
Of course, that would be just the beginning of what he saw for himself in politics. He wanted an illustrious career, one that would ultimately take him out of this dusty, boring town and to the good life in Washington DC. He was young, good-looking and smart. He had all the qualities and plans to make his dreams come true.
And that bitch wanted to ruin it all for him.
He clenched his fists so tightly his fingernails bit into the palms of his hands. Maddy Taylor...what was he going to do about Maddy Taylor?
None of the other women had come forward. None of them had dared to tell the law about his dark desire. So why had she?
Brad knew he was a monster. He knew it wasn’t normal to take pleasure in the sight of a woman bloodied by his fists and sobbing for him to stop. But he was hardwired that way. He got the most intense sexual pleasure while taking a woman against her will.
He’d always tried to drive into Oklahoma City and use a prostitute for his twisted pleasures. However, there had been times when he had taken his pleasure right here in his own hometown.
He’d been so careful. He’d only shown that side of himself to a couple of women here in Bitterroot who were way below his social standing, women who were timid and shy and rarely had a voice.
But that bitch Maddy had found her voice and had shot it off to Dillon. He’d heard from a couple of his friends that she’d shown up at the police station with a bunch of dumb cowboys from the Holiday Ranch.
He stood and instantly plumped and rearranged the throw pillows on the sofa. His friends teased him about being a bit on the OCD side. He liked a clean place. He liked everything to be in its place. And now Maddy Taylor needed to be put in her place.
Since he saw her car on the side of the road, he’d been unable to locate her. But now he had a clue. One of the Holiday cowboys was obviously helping her...hiding her.
All he had to do was figure out who it was and then he would be able to put Maddy in her place...in a shallow grave.
Chapter 7
Madison opened the door to Flint, her heart expanding at the very sight of him. Being alone in the cabin after telling Dillon about Brad had been unsettling. She had jump
ed at every noise and had looked outside the windows a hundred times.
But she’d gotten through it by focusing on the kiss, that wonderful, soul-stirring kiss that she and Flint had shared. It had fired a hot desire through her that she’d never felt before.
She now smiled at him as he approached her. “Hey, cowboy, it’s good to see you again.”
He grinned, that sexy smile of his that made a rush of heat sweep through her. “Hmm, as usual something smells good in here,” he said as he walked into the cabin.
“That would be dinner,” she replied.
He took off his hat and tossed it to the sofa. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Nope. Just sit.”
He sank down in his chair at the table. “How was your afternoon?” he asked.
She pulled the smothered steak out of the oven and then turned to look at him. “To be honest, I was a little nervous being here all alone. I just hope Brad never finds out I’m here.”
“There’s no reason to believe he’ll find this place. None of the men who were with us this morning will breathe a word to anyone else about this cabin.”
His words comforted her. If he believed in his cowboy buddies that much, then she would believe in them, as well. She busied herself getting the meal served and then joined him at the table to eat. “So how was your afternoon?” she asked.
She loved to listen to him talk about his work on the ranch and his interaction with the other men. While she was grateful to be here in the cabin, she missed having daily interactions with other people.
She wanted to be safe, but she looked forward to the time when this thing with Brad was behind her and she could go back to her job at the grocery store. She desperately wanted to somehow reclaim some of the good pieces of her former life.
“Did you hear anything more from Dillon?” she asked once the dishes were cleared away and the two of them had moved into the living room. He picked up his hat and tossed it into the nearby chair and they sat side by side.
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