by Em Petrova
Each slow step across the field, he clenched his muscles in preparation to run like hell for the fence. When he got within fifty yards of the bull, the beast lurched forward, working to pull its legs beneath him.
Damn, he’d hoped to dart it while it lay on the ground. An animal of this massive size could do injury to himself when he collapsed, dead weight.
The bull heaved to its feet and stood wobbling for a moment. Theo tensed, trying not to make direct eye contact with the volatile animal while continuing to try to predict its next move.
Forty yards.
At thirty, he knew he needed to be closer in order to make the shot. He wanted the dart to achieve the most penetration.
The bull made a hobbling step his direction and snorted.
Intimidation never set well with him, and he might be tempted to walk up to it and dart it. But Sadie looked on, and he couldn’t do anything remotely risky.
“Easy now,” he said in a low tone, edging closer. The bull shifted, and he dug in his boot heel, ready to bolt.
As of right this minute, nobody knew the bull went down as a result of chasing a kid. If they did, Kaoz would be scouring Crossroads right now for the hooligan, when really he slept a hundred yards from the big ranch house every night.
Theo couldn’t bring himself to tell the secret. He couldn’t look the men he respected in the eyes and confess he’d been sneaking, lying and using them.
The bull stamped the ground.
That’s far enough.
Theo raised the gun and pulled the trigger. The dart hit true, sinking deep into the hide. The bull reared its head and took three heavy, lumbering steps toward him before the medication began to seep into its system.
He stopped again. Theo held his breath, waiting for the tranquilizer to take effect.
“Good shot.”
He looked around to see Cort coming toward him with the vet. Theo squelched the urge to glance at Sadie to see if she was all right. He’d comfort her later and try to explain his reason for taking over. Maybe he’d even tell her about Jordy, though he wanted to keep that under wraps a bit longer.
“He’s going over,” the vet said.
Theo watched the bull waver and finally fall in a slow arc to the ground.
“Damn, that looked almost graceful.” Theo walked toward the beast.
“Some go down nice and easy,” the vet told him, reaching the animal first.
After a thorough examination, the vet declared the bull had a sprained hock on his rear leg. He administered something for inflammation along with pain reliever.
When the man straightened, he gave Cort instructions to keep an eye on the bull, and if he continued to limp after a week, to give him another call.
“Send me a bill.” Cort shook the vet’s hand.
“Don’t worry—I will.” He grinned. “I’ll stick around until the bull wakes up, and then I’ll be on my way to the next call.”
Theo remained silent as Cort BS’d with the vet. He needed to find Jordy. Asking him what he’d been thinking to jump into the pasture with the meanest bull in the county would do little good. But again, he didn’t believe Jordy was a true delinquent in any sense of the word. He was a bored kid getting up to high jinks.
This hadn’t been the first time nor would be the last. That was the problem.
Right now, the ranch hands were all congregated at the fence, and he’d have a chance to find Jordy and speak with him before anybody returned.
He caught Cort’s eye. “I’m gonna…” He twitched his head toward the fence.
“Yeah, man. Go on. Thanks for everything you did today. Thank Sadie too, for alerting us that the bull was down.”
He ducked his head in an awkward nod. The last thing he wanted was a thank-you for something he’d fucked up again.
After crossing the field in long strides, he heard a cheer go up. He turned to see the bull rolling to its feet.
Sadie clapped with the rest of the guys but stopped when Theo stepped up to her.
She searched his eyes, and he saw the same light in them she got right before she kissed him. Yet she didn’t move.
“Cort says thanks.”
She nodded.
“Why don’t you go on home? I have some things to do.”
Confusion backlit her eyes, but she nodded again. “Okay. I’m glad everything worked out, Theo.”
“Me too.” It hasn’t yet.
“Do you want me to come with you?” she asked.
His chest heated at the thought that she’d want to remain near him longer. But he couldn’t let on—to anybody—what he was doing.
“Sorry, but I have work to do. I’ll see you later, okay?”
She gave him a slow nod and backed toward her truck a few steps. She spun around again. “You want a lift to the ranch?” she called.
He tipped his head toward one of the ATVs the guys drove here. They could catch a ride with Cort or someone else. “Got wheels. Thanks.”
She threw him a wave that lacked her usual zest for life. He watched her drive away, feeling worse by the millisecond. How had his life gotten so tangled up? A year ago, he was living his best, loving his job. Lately, he was too knotted with worry to take time to drink in many sunsets or enjoy the hard work he loved.
It came down to Jordy. He felt terrible about it, but the kid had to go.
Chapter Seven
The abandoned grain silo in Crossroads had always been a source of intrigue for teenagers. Climbing the rickety ladder up the side to sit in the rusty lookout at the top was a rite of passage.
Theo and his buddies always bragged about taking girls up there and having their way with them, but on Theo’s part, it was talk. Well, mostly talk. He’d actually gotten Winter Stokes up there one night, but he hadn’t gotten further than sliding his hand under her shirt before her parents showed up.
When Theo couldn’t find Jordy anywhere on the Bellamy but saw all his clothes were still hidden under the floorboard in the shed, he suspected the kid might have got wind of the silo and come to explore.
The walk wasn’t far from the Bellamy—through the woods and up a hill, easy walking even in the dark. As he approached the structure, which had served one of the bigger ranches back in the day, he automatically tipped his head up to stare at the lookout at the top.
He climbed the rickety steps as if he’d made a hundred trips up and down them. As he reached the top, he heard a thump of a foot on metal.
“Jordy?”
The blond head popped out and the boy looked down at him. “Theo. You scared me.”
Wordlessly, he climbed up and into the lookout, which wasn’t more than a small shack built on the top of two connecting silos. A grain chute projected out of the side and rambled to the ground.
Jordy sat on an overturned bucket somebody had brought up. Theo grabbed another from the corner and sank next to the boy. His ward. He’d been responsible for Jordy for months now, and would continue to help…but it was time for a change.
“This place is old,” Jordy said.
Theo nodded. “It was old when I was your age.”
He glanced at him. “You came here too?”
“Yeah, with friends mostly. Sometimes alone when I needed to get away and think.”
Jordy stared out the grimy window with the cracked pane. “What was this hut used for?”
He shrugged. “I guess someone would scoop up the grain from the silo and send it down the chute to a wagon below.”
Nodding, he drank in Theo’s answer. “Guess I know why you came lookin’ for me,” he said quietly.
Any anger he’d been feeling over Jordy making that bull chase him faded at the hunch of Jordy’s shoulders and the bow of his head.
Reaching out, Theo clamped a hand on Jordy’s nape and squeezed. “What am I gonna do with you?”
When he turned his gaze on Theo, he saw the worry in the depths.
Theo sighed and released him. “I think it’s about time you tell me everyt
hing about why you left home and why you won’t go back.”
He started to shake his head, but Theo put up a hand to stop him.
“I have to know so I can make a decision about what to do with you.”
Jordy dropped his stare to his new boots, already worn in. “I don’t wanna leave.”
“Tell me the story first.”
It came out haltingly and in a softer voice than Theo’d ever heard from the kid. He told him of alcoholism running in the family, an evil river snaking through generations on his mother’s side. His momma had been diagnosed with schizophrenia after he was born, and the alcohol mixed with her meds made her crazier. She brought in man after man, each meaner and more abusive than the next, until one day Jordy just up and walked out.
When he came to a finish, Theo sat silently ingesting everything. He’d heard of such things happening, but Jordy’s story reached a fist into Theo’s chest and ripped out his heart.
The kid remained dry-eyed, so Theo did as well, even though his throat thickened with emotion.
“That’s heavy stuff to deal with.”
Jordy gave a gruff nod.
“Don’t blame ya for leavin’. I would have too. And I thought I had it bad when I skipped out of college and my parents disapproved. They still hound me about going back.”
Jordy cocked a brow at him. “Never pegged you for a college man.”
He chuckled. “That’s why I dropped out. But schooling’s important, and I think you know you have to find some stable situation so you can attend classes again.”
“Don’t see why. I can work on a ranch and make a living.”
“That’s true, but you need to finish school. A lot more doors open when you have that diploma in hand. Now. Let’s talk options. You mentioned your mother’s side isn’t any good. What about your father’s?”
He stiffened, staring from the window into the darkness.
“You know who your father is?” he asked gently.
“Of course I do!”
“That’s good. Did you have contact with him? Or an aunt or grandparent?”
He went silent, which led Theo to believe someone might be willing to take the boy in, but he hadn’t gone to them. Maybe if he did, they’d send him directly home to the abuse.
“Do you know what happens to kids who run away?”
“Yeah, they’re stuck in foster care. I ain’t doin’ that. Why can’t I stay here with you?”
He thought his heart had already been torn out, but the wrench he felt at Jordy’s question told him otherwise. He drew in a deep breath and battled for control of his feelings.
“You know I care about you, and I’ll do anything to help you. But we both know that we need a new situation. You can’t keep hidin’ in the shed, using the space under a floorboard as a dresser. When the winter months hit, it’ll get too cold for you out there.”
“I could talk to Cort Bellamy. Ask for a job, and then I’ll be in the bunkhouse with you and the others.”
“For liability reasons, Cort won’t take on anyone underage. Believe me, lots of kids come by looking for work. So that avenue is out. Let’s think of another.”
“You could move off the ranch. Find a place of your own, and I can stay with you.”
Shit, now his heart really splintered. Rubbing a hand over his face, he fought to dispel the urge to let his face pinch up and actually cry.
“That might have worked. If I hadn’t paid for the new shed you burnt down.”
He dropped his head low between his slumped shoulders.
“You’ve caused trouble, and I’ve taken the rap. If that bull doesn’t heal from his injuries, Jordy, it will cost ten thousand dollars.”
His head snapped up. “How do you know it was me who injured it?”
He stared at him for a long moment. “A friend of mine saw a boy sprinting across the field and the bull limping after it chased him. Unless there’s another kid as fast as I’ve seen you run, then my bet is on you.”
Jordy sighed. “A bull’s worth that much?”
“That bull is. He’s a champion with a bloodline every rancher wants. He earns the Bellamy a lot of money. I probably don’t need to tell you that I can’t afford to pay that much. Tell me about the other people in your life. Friends. Neighbors. A favorite teacher from school. Anybody who can help you.”
Getting information from the kid was the same as yanking stubborn, deep-rooted teeth. In the end, they discussed everything they possibly could, and still he couldn’t come up with a solution to this mess they both stood in now.
Finally, Theo clapped him on the shoulder. “C’mon. Let’s go find a pizza.”
“Really?”
“I never joke about pizza.” He grinned, and Jordy returned it.
They climbed down one by one, because Theo didn’t know if the old stairs would hold both of their weight at once. They walked through the dark woods and came out on Bellamy property. It was approaching nine o’clock at night, but the pizza joint would be open.
After hopping in Theo’s truck, he drove into town. When they passed the side road that led to Sadie’s schoolhouse, he pivoted his head to look down it. He’d promised her to come by, but he wouldn’t make it tonight. After he returned from the pizza run, it’d be too late to text her.
Another enigma in his life. He liked Sadie—a lot. All day long he looked forward to wrapping up his chores on the ranch and heading to her place to work a few hours on her walls, floors…and often her sweet, lush body.
Most days he tried not to think too hard about what they were doing. Other times, such as when she squeezed his hand, took him by surprise and made him want more.
They weren’t so different—except when it came to his work. She hated it. Was scared of it. Who could blame her? Yet he couldn’t work at something he disliked any more than Jordy could return home to his family. So he and Sadie stood at a crossroads, one on each side. Some days, they could meet in the middle, but they’d never navigate a life together, not as long as he worked on the Bellamy.
They arrived at the pizza place, and he ran inside. When he jumped behind the wheel again and handed the box and two bottles of soda to Jordy to hold, he threw him a grin. “I half expected to come out and find you took off with my truck.”
“Well, you did leave the keys in the ignition.”
Theo chuckled and drove around the side of the building, where they parked and slammed down the entire large pie between the pair of them.
With his stomach full and his mind at rest that he couldn’t take action today when it came to Jordy’s life, Theo drove down the main street, past Jada and Dom’s barbecue restaurant, the hardware store and tack shop. As he approached the next business sign, he let his foot off the gas.
Sam Masters—Attorney at Law
His mind hit overdrive even as the truck slowed. A lawyer. What he needed was counsel. Masters would keep Theo’s issue concerning Jordy in confidence but perhaps offer insight on both his rights and Jordy’s, as a minor.
At his side, the boy started to talk, chattering about nothing and everything. Pizza and cola had loosened his tongue, and now he acted like any other teen.
Theo realized he really might be on the correct path after all.
* * * * *
Sadie entered the Crossroads Confection Connection to the music of a tinkling bell over the door. She’d been inside before, but each visit things appeared changed.
Today, the old-fashioned glass case displayed cupcakes, cookies and more luscious pastries in an array of pink and white colors. Last week it’d been green and blue.
And the place smelled as if Heaven had its very own bakery. With vanilla, chocolate and maple hanging in the air, she figured the bakery really had been lowered down by cherubs from Heaven’s own front gates and plunked right here in small-town Georgia.
She swept her stare from the front of the shop to the cute tables. Two blondes waved at her, and she smiled as she made her way toward Jada and her sister Joss.
“Wow, you look great in red. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you wear red before,” Joss oozed.
“Uh-oh. Her inner fashion designer’s showing itself. Watch out, Sadie. Next thing you know she’ll be roping you into modeling her designs for her.”
Joss tossed a paper from her straw at her sister and sipped her iced coffee. “At least I can have caffeine now. You can’t know how much I missed it between pregnancy and breastfeeding.”
Jada lowered her eyes, and Sadie took in her own drink, which looked to be water with fruit floating in it. Immediately, her mind shot to the deck party she’d thrown in Sadie’s honor. While everyone else had downed beers and hard lemonades or teas, Jada had stuck to water.
Catching her staring, Jada raised a brow. Sadie only offered her a smile in return.
She knew that Sadie knew, but neither were about to say so. She wondered that her own sister hadn’t yet made the connection and realized Jada was either pregnant or trying her best to start off a life by following all the prenatal rules.
A waitress popped over to their table to take Sadie’s order of a double shot of espresso and a cinnamon scone.
“Wow, double shot? You must need a lot of energy today.” Jada pulled her fruit-infused water toward her and sipped.
“I have a lot of footwork to do if I’m going to launch my business. My last attempt was a complete fail. Or just about.”
“What happened?” Jada asked.
Sadie proceeded to share the story of Reagan Kennedy and the way she’d used Sadie’s ideas.
“That slimy little—” Jada burst a little too loudly.
Joss clapped a hand over her sister’s mouth. “She means karma comes around, and that woman is in for a nice smack alongside the head.” Spoken in her sweet-as-pie drawl, the words were in complete contrast.
All three of them collapsed into giggles, which lightened Sadie’s spirits but didn’t help with the problem that she needed to start her business.
“Tell me the truth, ladies. Am I crazy for trying to start my fixer-upper doctor business here in a small town? I realize there isn’t a lot of buying and selling going on in Crossroads.”
