Page 21 of Wyoming Bodyguard (Sunrise Security #1)

L ily scrubbed the suds-covered dishrag along the inside of the bowl. A hundred thoughts swirled in her mind like the water circling the drain in the kitchen sink. What did potentially stolen cattle, hidden drugs and her father’s shooting all have in common?

She didn’t really want to know, but she had to get to the bottom of it. No matter where the answers led.

Madden stepped into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter and crossed his ankles. “I think it’s clean.”

She glanced at the white porcelain and sighed. The red stains were gone but her anxiety remained. No amount of scrubbing could erase the unease tightening her nerves. She ran the bowl under hot water then placed it in the wire rack on the counter.

“My dad’s place might not be the most luxurious, but he does have a dishwasher. You could have thrown the bowls in there. Or even left them on the counter. You’re a guest here. No need for chores.” He plucked a hand towel out of a drawer and began drying the dishes.

The simple act thrilled a secret part of her. A part that’d always wanted a partner to walk with through life. A man who’d cook or clean or talk with her about her day while helping in whatever way he could. Madden kept surprising her, kept checking her boxes.

She plunged her hands back into what remained of the soapy water and found the last of the silverware. “I like washing dishes. It’s like meditation. I can keep my hands busy and let my brain rest a little. I haven’t been able to do that much lately.”

“If I want to let my brain rest, I’d go back in the living room with my dad and watch the ball game.”

She snorted out a laugh. “I guess we all have our things. How was your call?”

After they’d finished eating, Madden had stepped out to call Reid about what they’d discussed with his dad.

She’d offered to clean despite Walter’s protests.

She could tell the old man didn’t want to feel helpless, but when she’d mentioned how much it’d benefit her to use her hands, he’d relaxed into the idea.

“Reid will start looking into the tags and see if there have been any missing cattle reported while he’s keeping an eye on your ranch tonight.”

She finished rinsing off the last dish and spun around to face him. “What do you mean while he’s watching my ranch?”

“I think it’d be best if you and I stay here for the night. And while we do, Reid will stake out your place.”

He spoke so matter-of-factly, as though she was supposed to simply go along with whatever he planned without even consulting her.

Sure, she hired him to protect her but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t have a choice in things.

“And why on earth would I agree to stay at your father’s house?

Where I have no clothes or toothbrush or anything I need for the night? ”

“Because last night someone got onto your property right under my nose, and another man died and I didn’t even know it until we stumbled across the body.

” Pinching the bridge of his nose, he shut his eyes for a beat.

When he opened them again, angst and regret shimmered inside them.

“I don’t have enough equipment to properly survey all your property.

I can’t keep you safe when I don’t have eyes on everything.

No one will look for you here, and Reid can be on-site if anything happens. ”

She wanted to argue but not only was his logic flawless, she could sense his urgency. “So what? We’re going to sleep in the twin bed in your childhood bedroom?”

He grinned. “You have no idea how many times I dreamed you’d be in that bed.”

Grinning, she shook her head. “Regardless if that fulfills your childhood fantasy or not, a night crammed in that tiny bed doesn’t sound very tempting. And neither does sleeping together with your father down the hall.”

“More like right next door.” Madden grimaced. “But that won’t be an issue. We’ll stay in separate beds. I’ll stay in my room, you take the guest room. The bed’s bigger, and you’ll have your own bathroom. You’ll find whatever you need in there.”

The idea of being separated from him for the night made her chest ache.

“What is it?” he asked.

Damn, could he read that well? She debated what to say but if she wanted an honest and open relationship, she had to be vulnerable.

No matter how much that terrified her. Besides, she had a front row seat to what happened when lies and deceit spun out of control.

She didn’t want any part of her own life to go down that same path.

“Do you not want to sleep with me anymore?”

A coughing fit sounded behind her. She whirled around to find Dax standing in the doorway. Amusement sparked in his blue eyes. “If he doesn’t, he’s an idiot you shouldn’t waste your time on.”

Humiliation scorched her cheeks. If it was possible to burrow into the ground, she’d be under the floorboards in five seconds flat. Since that wasn’t an option, she lifted her chin and met Dax’s stare head-on. “Hello again, Dax. I didn’t hear you come in.”

A smirk too much like his brother’s lifted the side of his mouth. “Clearly. Didn’t expect to see you two here again tonight. What brings you around? More poker?”

“Nah. I took enough of your money last night,” she said. “Your brother and I had a question for your dad.”

All hints of humor fled from Dax’s face, replaced by irritation. “What are you bothering him with now?”

Madden worked his tight jaw back and forth. “None of your business.”

“Of course.” Dax snorted out a humorless laugh.

“Nothing between you two is ever my business. If that’s the way you want to keep things, maybe you should be the one living here, keeping an eye on things instead of staying in that apartment, pretending to work when you’re clearly just getting your kicks in with people paying for your help. ”

“You son of a bitch,” Madden said, storming across the kitchen.

Lily jumped in front of him, placing her palms on his chest to keep him from knocking off his brother’s head. “Madden. Stop. Dax is teasing.”

Madden’s glare melted a fraction. The red drained from his face. “No, he’s not, but he should thank you for saving his pathetic life right now.”

“Sure, whatever. Thanks, Lil.” Sarcasm dripped from every word.

A low growl hummed from Madden’s chest, vibrating Lily’s hand.

“I’m going to get myself ready for bed. Can I trust you two boys alone or do I need to stay here and play referee like when we were kids?” She glanced between the two men for any signs that the tension between them had dissolved.

A hint of a smile touched Dax’s mouth. “At least back then you were on my side.”

A glimpse of the boy he used to be warmed her. “I’m still on your side, Dax. Even if you don’t see it.” She set her sights on Madden and lowered her voice. “Talk to him. He deserves to know the truth.”

She kissed Madden’s cheek then went in search of the guest room, hoping to find a large bath she could fill with hot water and sink into, soaking until her feet turned to prunes and her problems floated away with the steam.

* * *

Madden waited until the padding of Lily’s footsteps faded and he was sure she’d found her way to the guest room before he turned all his fury on Dax. “What the hell is your problem?”

“You’re my problem, big brother. Have been for a while.” Dax strolled past him to the fridge and pulled out a beer. “Want one?”

He wanted a lot more than a beer but accepted the offer anyway.

Twisting off the cap, he took a long sip and waited for the alcohol to hit his blood stream and calm him before addressing his brother again.

As much as he hated to admit it, Lily was right.

Dax deserved to know the truth, and it was past time to tell him why they’d sold their land.

“Want to sit on the porch for a few?” he asked, tilting his head toward the front door.

He understood that now was the time to tell Dax everything, but their father might have a different idea.

Walter’s hearing wasn’t what it once was, but the old man had a way of tuning in at the worst times.

Better to have this conversation without the threat of being overhead.

Shaking his head, Dax rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man.”

Madden counted to ten as he led the way outside and sat in the familiar rocking chair. He needed to keep a calm head to have this conversation.

Dax sat beside him. “You and Lily, huh? Do you want to sleep with her or not?”

“I’ll repeat, that’s none of your damn business.”

Dax chuckled. “Well, you’re an idiot if you don’t. No matter if her dad hates you. Hell, you couldn’t throw a stone around here without finding some girl’s daddy who didn’t want you around. Might as well go toe-to-toe with Tremont.”

“I didn’t bring you out here to discuss Lily.”

“Didn’t think so, but you aren’t spitting out what you wanted. Figured I’d talk about something rather than just sit here, drinking a beer and pretending everything’s all right between us.”

Well, that was as good an opening as any. Madden took another drink then hugged the bottle between his hands. “And why do you think things aren’t good between us?”

Dax turned to stare at him. “You’re joking, right?”

“No jokes, man. I want to be done with this nonsense.”

“Seriously?”

Madden nodded.

“Okay. How could anything be good with us after you stole my dream?”

The anger in Dax’s voice hit him like a hailstorm. “I didn’t steal anything from you.”

“You agreed to sell the ranch,” Dax yelled, throwing his arms wide.

“This land, this place, it’s in our blood.

In our bones. I grew up idolizing you and knowing I’d always have a place here.

Working this ranch like Pops had. Knowing every night I’d go to bed sore and tired and satisfied. You took all of that away from me.”

Anxious energy swirled through Madden. He tapped his toe against the floorboard, needing to get it out of his system before he exploded.

“I came home, injured and traumatized, and couldn’t do the job anymore.

Pops and I didn’t have any other option but to get the money we could so he could survive. ”

“ I could have done the work. I could have kept this legacy going.”

“You were just a teenager, Dax. We couldn’t put that pressure on you.”

Dax shot to his feet and paced. “I’m not a damn kid. Haven’t been in a long time. Hell, who do you think took care of this place while you were gone? Who kept an eye on Pops? I did.”

A lump lodged in Madden’s throat. He hadn’t thought about the years he’d been gone. He’d assumed his father had kept a steady hand on running the ranch in his absence while Dax ran around, enjoying his youth.

But none of that was the real reason for selling the property.

“I’m sure you helped Dad a lot while I was gone, but that’s different from taking on the responsibility of this whole place. Dad wasn’t in a position to help. He needed to off-load things on someone else. It might seem selfish, but he didn’t have a choice.”

Dax stopped, his broad shoulders drooping. “We always have a choice. You two just chose to leave me out in the cold.”

“No, we chose to give you a chance to make your own mark while preserving Dad’s dignity.”

“What do you mean?” Dax frowned.

“Dad has Parkinson’s. He found out right around the time I came home with a bum shoulder.

He didn’t want to live on a ranch he couldn’t run, and I couldn’t take over a ranch that was always supposed to be mine.

You aren’t the only person who had something stolen.

We all did. Just in different ways, by different circumstances. ”

Silence struck Dax, and he sank back in his chair. “Parkinson’s? You sure?”

Emotion tightened Madden’s chest. His dad had always been larger than life. Picturing what was to come—what had already begun—tore his heart in two. “We’re sure.”

“I’ve seen the tremors. I told myself it was normal. It was just an age thing. I never imagined it was something more serious.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, and when he dropped it to his lap, tears shone in his eyes. “You should have told me.”

“You’re right.”

Shock registered on Dax’s face. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that before.”

“Don’t get used to it. But you have a point. You haven’t been a kid in a long time. I need to stop treating you like one. Should have stopped a long time ago and brought you into decisions that affected your life. I’m sorry I didn’t.”

Dax rubbed at his eyes. “Appreciate that. Well, damn. Who am I supposed to aim all my pent-up anger at now?”

“Ha!” Madden said, grateful to steer the conversation into less tumultuous territory. “How about using it to whip that stallion into gear. Did you bring him out here?”

“Yeah. I didn’t really need to. Just gave me an excuse to be closer to Dad during the day. He gets lonely out here by himself.”

Guilt hit Madden like a slap in the face. He’d avoided being out here because he didn’t want to run into Dax. Not only had he let their bad feelings color the way he saw his brother, but they’d also kept him away from the place he’d called home most of his life—and the man he’d admired forever.

“I’m sure he likes that.”

Nodding, Dax sipped his beer. “So why are you and Lily here? She still in danger?”

“I had a question about cattle tags then figured we should stay the night. It’s tough to keep her safe at her place. Too much space, not enough manpower or technology.”

“I know a little about cattle tags. I could know something useful.” Dax focused on the beer label as he peeled it back with his thumb.

Maybe it was the fact his eyes had been opened to the man Dax had become or maybe it was the shy way his brother casually mentioned helping, but he decided it may be time to take a chance on him.

Something he should have done a long time ago.

He grabbed his phone and found the photo he’d shown his father then passed the device to Dax. “Lily and I found these hidden in her bunkhouse today. Tremont Ranch is bleeding money right now. Finances are a mess. We’re wondering if someone turned to cattle rustling to help pay the bills.”

Dax slid his fingers along the screen to zoom in on the picture. “I’ve seen this tag before.”

Madden straightened. “When? Where?”

“This is the cattle tag used at the Williamson Ranch. That’s where I’ve been training horses.”

Shock reverberated through Madden’s system. A single conversation had not only helped build a bridge between him and his brother, but had opened the door to a new lead.