“My ribs are cracked, that’s what’s wrong,” Brody swore. “It’s not the first time and it probably won’t be the last.”
“I see,” she murmured as she wheeled him down the hall to x-ray. Sam stopped them in the hall.
“I’ll be in the waiting room and then I’ll drive you home. You’ll need to take a few days off.”
“Hell no, Sam. I don’t need any days off,” Brody argued.
“I said you’re taking some days off. I’m your boss.” Sam glared at him.
Brody took a deep breath and almost passed out from the pain. “All right.” Not that he wanted to, but he knew with the pain he was in he’d be no help at all to Mark. His ribs would heal in a few days if he rested. But he knew he could at least go into the office to help.
“I can help in the office,” Brody suggested.
Sam shook his head. “No. You will stay home and heal.” He glanced at the nurse. “How long could he be out for?”
“Usually six weeks to heal if they’re fractured. We’ll know more after the x-rays.” She smiled up at Sam.
Brody noticed they kept staring at each other so he coughed and regretted it the minute he did it. Sam whipped his head around. “Are you all right?”
Brody glared up at him until Sam grinned at him. “I’ll be in the waiting room.” He put his fingers to his hat, smiled at the nurse and walked off. The nurse began pushing the wheelchair down the hall again. Brody kept his hand against his ribcage. He jumped and then groaned at the pain when the nurse ran the wheelchair into the doorway. Brody glanced back at her.
“I’m so sorry. I was…” Her cheeks turned pink.
“He’s not married, if you want to know,” Brody growled. Sam never had trouble getting women. It had always been a pissing contest between himself, Riley Madison, Ryder Wolfe, Jake, Gabe, and Wyatt Stone, Trick Dillon, and Sam when it came to females, but the only one he was ever interested in was Madilyn.
“He’s not?” She sighed. “He’s gorgeous.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Brody muttered. He was a good-looking man himself and he had plenty of women after him, as long as Garrett wasn’t around. Brody grunted. It never mattered to him after he’d found Madilyn. Sam could have all the women he wanted, Brody wanted Madilyn and no one else, and he’d royally fucked that up. The nurse didn’t say anymore as she wheeled him into the room. The x-ray technician helped Brody up onto the table. After the nurse told him she’d be back for him, she left.
“We need to take your shirt off, hon. I’m sorry but it’s going to hurt like hell,” the technician told him. She helped him remove his shirt and stared at his tattoos. “I love a man with tats.”
Brody tried to smile but he was in too much pain to muster one up for her. She helped him lie back and then left the room. She told him to hold his breath while she took the pictures. After a few minutes, she came out and helped him put his shirt back on. She grinned at him.
“Is Madilyn your woman?”
Brody glanced down to his left pec. “She used to be.”
“Well, if she were smart, she’d take you back.” She winked at him.
Brody laughed and groaned at the pain. Shaking his head, he told her. “I don’t see that happening.”
The technician laughed. “That’s too bad. I’m Nancy, by the way. Call me.” She stuck a card into his shirt pocket and left to call the nurse to come back and get him. Brody smiled.
* * * *
Madilyn sat up when she heard the siren go by and then ran to the window and watched as Sam’s SUV cruiser drove past. He was heading out toward Copper Ridge Road. Too many accidents happened on the winding road. Madilyn hoped it wasn’t anyone she knew. She heard a second siren and knew it was an ambulance, which was never a good sign. It meant someone was hurt. It was a boring evening. Zach had called her several times but she refused to speak with him. He tried apologizing but what he’d done was unforgivable. It could’ve gotten way out of hand if Brody hadn’t shown up. She shivered thinking what might have happened. Maybe she should’ve pressed charges. Was it possible Zach would do that to another woman?
Madilyn blew out a breath. She should have told Brody she wanted to press charges. Zach had scared her immensely. When someone knocked on her door, she flinched. Going to the peephole, she peered through it and saw Zach. What did he think he was doing?
“I know you’re in there, Madilyn. Come on, open up so we can talk,” Zach’s voice came through the door.
“No. Go away or I’ll call Sam.”
“You don’t really want to do that. I’m sorry. I just want to apologize.”
“You just did, now go,” Madilyn told him.
“Let me say it to your face, Madilyn. Please.”
“Go away, Zach, or I’m calling Sam,” she repeated. Madilyn heard him swear and then a loud thump hit against the door, as if he’d struck it with his fist.
“This isn’t over. I’ll be back,” Zach shouted.
Madilyn backed away from the door, staring at it. Now he was scaring her. Should she call Sam? Picking up her phone, she called the Sheriff’s Department. She knew Sam was out but maybe Rick could come over. Betty Lou transferred her.
“Sheriff Garrett,” Sam answered.
“Sam? I thought Betty Lou was going to transfer me to Rick. It’s Madilyn.”
“He’s all right, Madilyn. He just has some busted ribs.”
“Who? Rick?” She was confused.
“Rick? No. Brody,” Sam told her.
Madilyn gasped. “Brody’s hurt?”
Sam swore. “Joe Baker ran him off the road and he flipped the bike. The nurse took him down to x-ray to see if his ribs are broken or bruised. Brody’s sure there are a few broken.”
“I’m on my way.” Madilyn hung up before Sam had a chance to answer her. She had to get to Brody. He was hurt. The tears in her eyes were blinding her as she ran out to her car. Tearing out of the parking lot, she headed for the hospital, going well over the speed limit. She pulled into the hospital parking lot, found a spot, and ran inside. She didn’t see Sam anywhere so she walked to the desk. “I’m looking for Brody Morgan,” Madilyn told the nurse sitting behind the counter. She watched as the nurse scanned her computer.
“He’s back in E R room fifteen. Are you family?”
“I…” Madilyn didn’t know what to say.
“Madilyn.” She spun around when she heard Sam’s voice.
“Sam. Is he all right?”
“I told you he was on the phone. You didn’t need to come here,” Sam scolded her.
“I have to see him, Sam. Please.” Madilyn hated the catch in her voice.
Sam wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her to the room. Neither of them saw the nurse give them a dirty look. Madilyn let Sam lead her into the room. Her breath whooshed out when she saw Brody sitting up on the bed. He frowned at her.
“Madilyn? What are you doing here?” He turned his gaze to Sam. “Did you call her?”
“No.” Sam looked at her. “Why were you calling the department anyway if you didn’t know about the wreck?”
Madilyn nibbled on her bottom lip. There was no way she was going to tell them about Zach scaring her. Knowing Brody as well as she did, she knew he’d go after Zach, busted ribs and all. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter now.” She turned to Brody. “Are your ribs broken?”
Brody shook his head. “Two of them are cracked, none are broken.”
Madilyn nodded not knowing what to do now that she was there. “I’ll, uh…go then.”
“Madilyn,” Brody whispered.
“What?” She looked everywhere but at him. She noticed Sam slip out of the room.
“You were worried about me?” Brody grinned when she shook her head. “Yes you were. Why else are you here?”
Madilyn huffed. “You’ll never get me to admit it.” Folding her arms across her chest, she glared at him.
Brody chuckled then sucked in a breath. “Son of a bitch.”
Ma
dilyn was at his side in no time. “Are you all right?”
“No. It hurts like a motherfu…uh, like a bitch.”
The nurse entered the room and handed Brody a release paper to sign and two prescriptions.
“Make sure you follow the directions. No lifting anything until the ribs heal. The doctor wants you to see your primary care physician before returning to work. Take the pain meds as needed and you will need them. They’re very strong. Do you have someone who can stay with you or check on you?” She glanced toward Madilyn.
Madilyn shook her head. “No.”
“I’ll be fine,” Brody assured the nurse.
“Make sure you are. You can’t take a chance of hurting yourself any worse.”
Brody gave a nod and slowly got down from the bed. He clenched his teeth as he straightened up. The nurse nodded toward the wheelchair.
“I can walk out,” Brody muttered.
“You’re going out in the wheelchair. Hospital policy.” The nurse glared at him until she saw Sam come into the room. She smiled up at him. Madilyn noticed one corner of Sam’s mouth lift, and then he looked toward Brody.
“Are you giving her a rough time?” Sam nodded toward the nurse.
“I don’t want to ride out in a wheelchair. It hurts too much to lower myself down into it and then to get up.” Brody shook his head. “No. I’m walking out. What are they going to do about it?” He slowly walked out the door. Madilyn, Sam, and the nurse stared after him.
Madilyn drove home wiping tears from her cheeks. Damn him for getting hurt. Shaking her head, she knew it was wrong to think that way. It wasn’t Brody’s fault Joe Baker was drunk again and ran him off the road. God, he could’ve been killed. Madilyn’s tears rolled down her cheeks. She was never going to stop loving him. Never. Loving him was as much a part of her as breathing was. Brody Morgan would always have her heart. She slapped the steering wheel. Damn him. Why couldn’t he have stayed away? Why was he back? Not to become a deputy, she knew that. Something was up. He’d been a U S Marshal for five years and now, all of a sudden, he’s a deputy in a small town Sheriff’s office? Madilyn shook her head. It made no sense. As she pulled into her parking space, she saw Zach standing by the stairs to her apartment and she was terrified. What part of go away did he not understand?
Madilyn took a deep breath and called Sam. After a quick explanation, she hung up and stayed in the car. She saw Zach frown as he practically marched toward her. She lowered the window a few inches.
“Go away, Zach.”
He leaned his arms atop the car and stared down at her. “Come on, Madilyn. This is getting ridiculous. I just want to apologize.”
“You have. Several times. We’re done talking. Go. Away,” Madilyn said through clenched teeth.
Zach tried to open her car door and finding it locked made him angry. “Get out of the car, Madilyn, and we’ll go inside and talk.” He slapped his hand on top of the car.
Madilyn was about to yell at him when Sam’s sport utility cruiser pulled up. She watched as Sam stepped out of the vehicle and slowly walked toward her car. She heard Zach hiss in a breath.
“You called the sheriff?” he growled.
Madilyn watched as Sam leaned against the front of his vehicle, folded his arms, and crossed his booted ankles. She couldn’t see his eyes behind his aviator sunglasses but she was sure he was glaring at Zach.
“What are you doing, Zach?” Sam asked as he tilted his head.
“Nothing. We’re just talking.” Zach straightened up.
Madilyn watched as Sam glanced away and then back to Zach. She pushed her door open and got out. “I’ve asked him to leave but he won’t.”
Zach spun around to face her. His eyed narrowed. “I just wanted to say I was sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Sam moved closer.
“I don’t think it’s any of your business…Sheriff,” Zach told him.
Madilyn looked up at Sam. “You can ask Brody about it. I didn’t press charges but if Zach doesn’t leave me alone, I will.”
“You bitch,” Zach said through clenched teeth as he moved toward her.
“That’s enough,” Sam didn’t raise his voice but he may as well have. Zach froze in his tracks. “Do you want to file a restraining order Madilyn?”
Madilyn huffed. “No.” She glanced at Zach. “Not yet. I just want him to leave me alone. It’s over.”
“Madilyn—” Zach started.
“You heard her. It’s over. Move on, Zach,” Sam interrupted. “Get in your car and go home. Don’t make me arrest you for harassment.”
Madilyn watched as Zach wrestled with himself. She could see he wasn’t happy but he gave Sam a nod and after glaring at Madilyn one last time, he moved toward his car. She let out the breath she’d been holding.
“Are you all right?” Sam touched her shoulder.
She nodded. “Yes. Thank you for getting here so fast.”
Sam shrugged. “I was on my way back from taking Brody home. I was almost here when you called.”
“How is Brody?”
“Hurting. He will be for a while. I made sure he took a pain pill and laid down before I left.” Sam shook his head. “I don’t know how he’s going to take care of himself, he can barely get around.”
“I could check on him.” What? Where had that come from? Madilyn started to shake her head.
“That’d be great. He needs someone to check on him for a few weeks until he can get around better. I just don’t have the time. With him being out, I’m going to have to move everyone around. I like having two deputies together at all times, and I can’t do it with Brody out.”
Madilyn nodded. Now what? She couldn’t do it. There was no way she could go out to the ranch and help Brody. Too many things had happened between them at the ranch. Too many memories. How many times had they spent the night in his room when his parents were out of town? How many times had they made love in the hayloft? Shaking her head, she gazed up at Sam and saw him staring at her.
“If you don’t want to do it, Madilyn, I’ll figure something out,” Sam told her.
Great! She took a deep breath. “I’m fine with it, Sam.” Liar! Why couldn’t she just say she couldn’t do it? Because it would put more on Sam and with a deputy out, he had enough on his hands. She smiled up at him. “I can do it.”
Sam grinned at her. “I appreciate it. You’ll need to go out there later today and tomorrow morning to check on him. Knowing Brody, he’ll be up and trying to do something and not take those pills. Whether he wants to admit it or not, he needs those pain meds every eight hours.”
“I’ll go later this afternoon and first thing tomorrow.” She turned away and then back. “Thank you for coming over. Zach was scaring me.”
“Let me know if you have any other problems with him. I won’t mind hauling his ass in if I have to.” Sam narrowed his eyes. “I never liked him.”
Madilyn cleared her throat. “I know. I really don’t know why I dated him for so long.”
“Well, as I said, let me know if you have any more run-ins with him. Have a good day.” Sam sauntered back to his cruiser and drove off.
Madilyn groaned. What were you thinking? I could check on him…you’re just asking for trouble here, Madilyn girl. Nothing but trouble.
Sighing, she entered her apartment. The shop wasn’t open since it was Sunday and it was the day of the week she cleaned her apartment and washed clothes. Now she had to add in going to check on Brody. Madilyn chewed on her bottom lip. How was she going to do this? Taking a deep breath, she started her laundry and tidied up. The hours seemed to fly by. It seemed like it was no time at all that she was driving out to the ranch to check on Brody. She groaned. She seriously did not want to do this. Madilyn pulled around to the back of the house. She knocked on the back door then pushed it open.
“Brody?” she called out and walked toward the living room. She came to a dead stop when she saw him lying on the couch asleep. He didn’t have a shirt on and tho
ugh his jeans were zipped, they were unsnapped. Leaning over, she saw he still had the tattoo of her name across the top of his bicep. The fact she was here confirmed he wasn’t in a relationship of any kind. Her gaze roamed over his hard body. He still kept in shape there was no question there. His pecs were solid muscle. A tattoo twisted around each bicep. Her eyes ran down the six-pack stomach and back up. She gasped when she saw his eyes were open.
“What are you doing here, Madilyn?” he asked in a low voice.
She cleared her throat. “Uh, we want to make sure you take your meds.”
“We?” Brody moved to sit up but winced. Madilyn moved forward to help him but stopped at the look he gave her. “I can do it,” he growled. “And who’s we?”
“Fine.” She sighed. “Sam and me. We both know how stubborn you are.”
Brody leaned back against the couch once he sat up. His hand moved over his ribs. “Christ that hurt,” he muttered.
“It’s time for your meds.”
“I don’t need…” He moaned when he tried to get up.
“The hell you don’t,” Madilyn shouted. “You will take the meds if I have to ram them down your throat, Brody Thomas Morgan.”
“Shit! Middle name again,” he mumbled as he glanced up at her.
Madilyn tried not to grin but she couldn’t help herself. “You knew you were in trouble anytime your mom yelled it.”
“Yeah, and then you started doing it.” Brody leaned his head back. “I couldn’t win with you two.”
“How are your parents, Brody?” Madilyn took a seat in the chair across from him.
“Having a ball traveling. They call me every week to tell me where they’re heading next. I’m glad they’re enjoying their retirement.”
“Me too. I loved your parents.” Madilyn smiled.
“They loved you too.” Brody’s eyes met hers. “Almost as much as I did.”
Madilyn tore her eyes from his and stood. “I’ll get you some water.”
* * * *
Brody Page 4
