Wild Ride

by Rebecca Avery

  Wild Ride

  Other Books in this Series

  Rough Ride

  Slow Ride

  Long Ride

  Wild Ride

  Riding with Honor series book 3

  Rebecca M. Avery

  This is an original publication of Rebecca M. Avery

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are being used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2012

  Rebecca M. Avery

  Cover Design by George Guignet (Miserable George)

  miserableg@mindspring.com

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.

  Library of Congress Catalog

  ISBN- 978-1482581539

  Wild RideRebecca M. Avery

  To Harley who has overcome obstacles in her life no child should have to and to Kristi for helping me find my voice. Life is a gift and living it to the fullest is a choice. Thank you both for showing me that.

  Chapter One

  “I don’t want to meet him, Mom. Please just close the door and leave me alone!” Meredith Johnson said.

  “You’re going to have to meet him at some point. He will be spending quite a bit of time here and if something comes up…” Carla Johnson began.

  “I don’t want his help and I don’t need his help! All he needs to do is watch out for Ben and Matt and whatever else you need him to do around here,” she interrupted angrily. “Please just go.”

  When Carla exited her bedroom, Meredith lay back against the pillows on her bed and stared at the ceiling. As if she didn’t feel guilty enough that she was unable to contribute to the family in any meaningful way, her mother allowing a convict to watch her two younger brothers didn’t help those feelings in the least. Her stump itched but to scratch it would give credence to her situation.

  “Is Meredith coming down to meet Charles?” she heard her youngest brother, Ben, ask their mother.

  “No. Meredith isn’t feeling well today so you two need to stay out of her room and behave yourselves for Charles,” she heard her mother reply.

  Benjamin was the youngest at only five, six in a few days, and would be starting Kindergarten in a couple of weeks. He was an active little guy that would require a caregiver more able than Meredith to keep up with him.

  Matthew was the middle child at nine and not as active as the youngest but was more reserved and quiet, at least since the accident. If not for the accident, the new babysitter would never have been necessary.

  Ben rarely asked or talked about their late father but it was obvious that Matt missed him as much, if not more, than Meredith did. She closed her eyes against the devastating images of the crash that had ended her father’s life and made her into the cripple that she was. She had been the reason they’d been out driving during that severe thunderstorm.

  The guilt alone was enough to make her hold herself up in her room and stay away from them. Seeing her would only unleash fresh grief for everyone… including their mother.

  The sound of a motorcycle pulling into the driveway brought forth a shout from Ben, “He’s here, Mom! Can I go see his motorcycle?”

  What had Grandpa Patterson been thinking? Talking her mother into allowing a criminal into their home to help with the boys would end up being a mistake…she didn’t doubt it for a second.

  She only hoped the son of a bitch wouldn’t cause even more problems for their family than she had. The boys and her mother had been through enough.

  “Hi, come on in,” she heard her mother say and then the door closed several seconds later. “I’m Carla and this is my son Ben and my other son Matt. It’s nice to meet you, Charles.”

  “Chuck,” she heard a man say. His voice was nice but everyone had at least one good quality.

  “Well, Chuck, let me give you a quick tour of the house before I have to leave,” her mother said.

  “This place is like a mansion or some shit… thing,” she heard him reply.

  He’d just cussed! Had her mother not caught that? She pulled herself up so she could better listen to what was going on at the foot of the stairs. She realized the necessity of her mother going back to work, but this would never work.

  “Our home is comfortable but it’s not a mansion…Chuck,” she heard Carla reply, clearly leery of the man. It was about time her mother came to her senses.

  She listened as the group consisting of Carla, the two boys and Chuck made their way from room to room downstairs and then headed up to the second floor. Footsteps and conversation continued as they made their way into each of the boys’ rooms, the spare bedroom and the bathroom. Then she heard them outside her door and her stomach rolled in fear that her mother would bring him in.

  “This is my daughter Meredith’s room. She’s resting at the moment and prefers not to be bothered,” she heard Carla say and then shuffling as they headed back downstairs.

  “Your house is epic, Mrs. Johnson,” she heard Chuck say.

  “Well…thank…you, Chuck,” her mother stammered. “I have a menu posted on the refrigerator and Matt here can help with setting out the ingredients and knows how to work the stove, microwave and dishwasher. He may just need a little guidance and help with dinner preparations. He can take Meredith’s dinner to her and I’ll clean it up when I get home.”

  “No problem,” Chuck replied as they headed away from the stairwell.

  She let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding upon hearing them enter the kitchen.

  “Here is a list of contact numbers if you need anything,” Carla said. “Did you have any questions?”

  “No, I’m good,” Chuck replied. He sounded like a complete idiot…even with the sexy tone of his voice.

  “Ok then, I should be back by nine thirty or ten this evening. Bedtime is eight thirty for them both with lights and television off at nine,” her mother said. “Give me kisses, boys, I have to go.”

  After some shuffling she heard the door close and a few minutes passed and then Ben said, “Your motorcycle is cool, can we ride on it?”

  “You should’ve asked your mom before she left. You can look at it and sit on it but no rides until you ask her,” Chuck said.

  Mom would never allow it. She listened as they filed out of the house. A small part of her wanted to go to the window and watch to be sure the scumbag didn’t do anything to endanger the boys.

  If moving wasn’t so hard now she would. She could hear Ben’s voice high and shrill from excitement though she couldn’t make out what was being said.

  After a few minutes had passed she heard the door to the house open and Matt yelled, “I’ll get it, be right back!”

  Get what? What the hell was going on? Matt sounded excited and his enthusiasm only seemed to make her more nervous. He rarely showed any emotion anymore and she hadn’t heard him yell like that since before the accident. What were they doing?

  She heard Matt running up the stairs and into his room. After muffled shuffling and banging she heard him hurry back down the stairs and slam the door behind him. Damn it!

  She was going to have to get into her chair so she could wheel over to the window to check on them. This was exactly why this whole thing was a bad idea from the start.

  Using her arms she maneuvered the wheelchair over closer to the bed and locked the breaks. Throwing back the covers she moved her good leg over the side of the bed and sat up and forward.

  Then balancing on her good leg, she stood up and used the arms of the chair to swing herself around and sit down. Using he
r only remaining foot, she put the foot rest down and then unlocked the breaks.

  Using her arms she wheeled the chair backwards and then over closer to the window. She pulled aside the heavy curtains and looked down into the backyard past the pool.

  A blonde guy with baggy pants and a t-shirt was hunched down facing away from the window. He held a football to the ground and Matt stood behind him. Ben was running wildly around the yard yelling, “I’m open…here I am Matt!”

  They were playing football…in this heat? Was he criminally insane? The earlier rain shower had cooled it off some but not by much. She watched as the guy…Chuck…hiked the ball to Matt who barely caught it. Then he pumped his arm as though instructing Matt how to throw it. Surely he didn’t mean for Matt to throw it at little Ben?

  She caught her breath in shock as Matt released the football which sailed through the air toward Ben…missing him by mere inches. Chuck ran over and grabbed the ball off the ground and turned back and walked to where Matt stood. He meant to have him do it again! Ben was too small… too young for that!

  Tattoos covered both of the guy’s arms and he had one on the back of his neck as well. He appeared to be a little over six feet tall and had broad shoulders and muscles…lots of muscles…in his arms, shoulders and back.

  His face was well sculpted with chiseled cheekbones, firm lips and a strong jaw covered by a shadow of beard growth. When her eyes finally made it to his she realized he was looking up…right at her. As their gazes met a lazy grin spread across his lips and he winked at her.

  Startled, she jumped back from the window and let the curtains fall back into place. Oh my God! He had seen her after all… because she hadn’t stayed in bed. She’d let her concern for the boys and, in all honesty, her own curiosity get the best of her. Great! And he had winked at her? What was up with that?

  His blue eyed gaze had made it feel as though he knew all her deepest secrets and desires… all of them… and she could feel herself blush. No criminal should look that good…and certainly shouldn’t leave her breathless and flustered. What the hell?

  She wanted more than anything to re-open the curtains and watch him…them…the boys play football, but what if he was still looking?

  “Ok, this time throw it at me with all you got but wait until I say,” she heard Chuck say. “Now watch how I catch it, ok, little buddy?”

  Little buddy? The boys weren’t his friends…they were his job…his community service rather. Unable to stop herself, she reached up and pulled the curtains aside slightly. Just enough to look out but hopefully not enough to draw his notice again.

  “Ok, let ‘er rip,” Chuck yelled.

  She watched as Matt again threw the ball and Chuck caught it and then looked to Ben. “Now you’ve got to take me down!” he yelled.

  Ben ran at him but then stopped when he got close. “Don’t stop! If I get to the fence that’s a point for me so one of you have to tackle me,” Chuck said over his shoulder as he ran slowly toward the fence.

  Matt took off running full speed and slammed into Chuck’s side and they both went down. What was he thinking? Matt was half his size! She pulled herself up using the arms of the chair to better see them in the grass, just in time to see Ben dive on top of the two of them.

  The boys started laughing and Ben squealed with delight when Chuck dropped the ball on purpose and then attempted to scramble toward it with both boys hanging on his back and side.

  “It’s a fumble!” Chuck yelled.

  Matt clambered over top of Chuck and grabbed the ball and wrapped his body around it holding it to his stomach.

  “It’s a turn over!” Chuck yelled.

  Matt stood up with the ball held over his head and began to dance around like a chicken. Chuck stood up holding Ben under one arm as though he were a rolled up rug that weighed nothing and then held his fist out to Matt.

  “Nice!” Chuck said laughing.

  Matt slowly made a fist and then bumped his fist against Chuck’s bigger one. Then Chuck sat Ben on his feet and released him. Ben began jumping around in his excitement and then stopped and held his fist up to Chuck. “Do mine!” he yelled.

  Chuck bumped fists with Ben as well and then asked, “One more time?” They both nodded and then Chuck said, “Ok, but this time Ben’s quarterback and you’re the receiver, Matt.”

  Chuck and Ben walked back over to where they had started from the first time and then Chuck hunched down on his knees next to Ben. He showed Ben the football and then how to hold it.

  Ben tried to throw the ball and it barely went anywhere. Chuck stood to retrieve the ball, and then came back to where Ben stood and knelt down again.

  This time he helped Ben throw the football and she was surprised when Matt caught it and then took off running toward the fence. Chuck caught up with Matt in several long strides and picked him up in both arms and then tumbled to the grass so that Matt landed on top of him. Then he released Matt just in time to catch Ben who jumped head first on top of them both.

  The boys were laughing and yelling…and having fun. They all stood up and brushed themselves off. Then Chuck handed Ben the football and picked him up and slung him over one shoulder as they all headed toward the door. She dropped the curtain but not before watching Chuck’s gaze fall on her window yet again.

  She wheeled herself back over to the bed. After locking the wheels of the chair Meredith carefully stood and then pulled herself up on to the bed. She heard the back door open as the group entered and headed to the kitchen.

  “I need a drink, Chuck!” Ben yelled.

  “Ok!” Chuck yelled back.

  Both boys began giggling and then their voices died down and she could hear them stomping around in the kitchen and water running. After they had acquired their drinks she heard the refrigerator door open and some shuffling of food.

  “You like these things?” she heard Chuck ask in doubt.

  “They are ok. Mom gets them because they are easy to make in the microwave,” Matt replied.

  “Is that what you want to eat or do you want to help me make something else?” Chuck asked.

  “Like what?” Matt asked.

  “Well show me where the rest of the food is and we’ll see what options we have besides that,” Chuck replied.

  If they make a mess, Mom will have a fit. She listened as cupboard doors were opened and closed. The sounds of pots and pans banging around filtered up to where she lay.

  He should just follow the menu, especially if the boys were going to be helping. She nearly yelled out that very thought before catching herself.

  “How about spaghetti instead?” Chuck asked.

  “Yea!” Ben yelled.

  “Ok,” Chuck yelled back.

  Both boys giggled again and then Chuck said, “We have to wash our hands first so grab a chair and get to it.”

  The sound of a kitchen chair scooting across the floor and then banging against the cabinets were followed by running water and the sounds of splashing. After several minutes she heard the banging of pots and pans again.

  “Here…you butter the pieces of bread and line them up on this pan with the buttered side down, ok?” Chuck said.

  “Maybe I should do that part,” Matt offered.

  “Nah, my man’s got it…don’t ya?” Chuck asked.

  “Yep, I can do it, Matt!” Ben said defensively.

  “He’s going to make a mess but ok,” Matt said skeptically.

  “You can brown the hamburger,” Chuck said.

  “You’re going to let me use the stove?” Matt asked in disbelief.

  “Well yea, what the hell could possibly happen? I’m right here!” Chuck replied.

  Oh my God! He just cussed at Matt! She could feel anger creeping up her cheeks and barely kept from hefting herself back into the chair and going out to the hallway so she could read him the riot act. Matt was only a child!

  “Aww, you said a bad word,” Ben sang.

  “Sorry, little man. I’m trying
to learn not to do that but I still mess up sometimes,” Chuck said.

  “You will have to put a quarter in the swear jar,” Matt said matter of fact. She could hear a pan being placed on the stove and what sounded like chopping noises.

  “Do I get a discount since I’m new?” Chuck asked. The kitchen faucet turned on and it sounded as though he were filling up a pot with water.

  “What’s a discount?” Ben asked.

  “It means he shouldn’t have to pay as much since he’s new here,” Matt explained.

  “Are you a good cooker Chuck?” Ben asked.

  “I do alright but whatever we make will be better than this,” Chuck replied. The rustle of a bag sounded, and then the refrigerator door opened and slammed closed. The boys giggled some more.

  “My birthday is in two days! Can we make a birthday cake, Chuck?” Ben asked.

  “Why don’t we see how dinner goes first? I might need to get a recipe for cake. I’m good but not that good!” Chuck said.

  “Ok…now what?” Ben asked.

  Some more shuffling sounds occurred along with both the smell and sound of frying hamburger.

  “Ok, butter the top of each one but you have to do it without picking up the bread,” Chuck said, followed by, “Wow, buddy, you are frying the shit out of that hamburger… let’s turn that down some huh?”

  “You said another bad word!” Ben yelled.

  “Sorry!” Chuck yelled. The boys laughed again as did Chuck. “Ok, how about a two for one deal? One quarter for every two cusswords? I still might end up broke but not as quickly,” he said. She heard a coin being dropped in the swear jar on the counter.

  Soon enough the oven door opened and closed and the sounds and smells of dinner preparations continued. She realized that for the first time in a long time, she not only cared about what was going on outside of her four bedroom walls, but was curious as hell. Now she owed a quarter.

  She listened as Chuck instructed Matt to get plates and for Ben to get silverware to set the table in the breakfast nook. The spaghetti dinner they were making actually smelled delicious and her stomach growled in tribute to their efforts.