Page 3 of Wyoming Bodyguard (Sunrise Security #1)

T ime crawled by slow as molasses while Lily sat in the waiting room, anxious for news about her father’s condition. She shifted in a hard chair, clasping her hands in her lap and staring at the double doors that only medical staff could enter.

He was back there. In surgery. Fighting for his life.

Tears hovered at the corners of her eyes, but she kept them from falling.

She couldn’t fall apart again. Her dad needed her to be strong, because once he pulled through surgery—which he had to—she needed to be there for him.

To help him regain his strength and put this entire mess in the rearview mirror.

The smell of old coffee and disinfectant turned her stomach. A few people loitered in the room, huddled in seats or propped against the wall waiting for their family or friends. But she couldn’t get past her anxiety to focus on the other folks around her.

The doors leading outside whooshed open and let in a huff of hot air. The sound of heavy boots pricked her ears, and she found herself staring at Deputy Sanders. He offered a tired, sympathetic smile that made his full cheeks impossibly rounder.

Madden returned, a cup of coffee in his hands. “Did you find the shooter?”

She bounced her gaze from one man to the other and fought the haze of fear that hadn’t left since she’d seen the gun in the truck window.

Deputy Sanders swept his cowboy hat from his head and settled into the chair beside her. “Sorry, but no. None of the witnesses were able to provide much. Lily, I know it’s a tough time right now, but can you tell me what you remember?”

Drawing in a shuddering breath, she steeled her nerves as much as possible. “Dad and I walked outside after we finished our lunch. The traffic light changed, so we stopped, and a truck charged forward.”

“Did you see what color the truck was? Make or model? License plate number?” Deputy Sanders asked.

“Um, black. Tinted windows. I can’t remember any other details.

The window lowered, and I saw a gun seconds before my dad shoved me to the ground.

Then the gunshots rang out.” Emotion lodged in her throat.

She rubbed her fingers over the base of her neck as if to dislodge the building pressure, to breathe easier.

But nothing helped. Nothing stopped the screams echoing in her mind or the image of her father motionless and so damn pale on the sidewalk.

The lump in her throat grew. Her breath hitched higher until her lungs refused to take in more air. She squeezed her clasped hands tighter as her vision wobbled and the buzzing of the overhead lights morphed into panicked cries.

Madden appeared in front of her and gently placed his hands on top of hers. “Lily, you’re safe. Take a few minutes. Look at me, okay? Focus on me while you catch your breath. Just inhale slowly then let it out.”

She stared at the green in his eyes and mimicked his actions. She pulled in a large, steady breath through her nose then blew it back into the air. Her muscles relaxed. Her hands unclenched. The feel of his rough palms on her knuckles grounded her, centered her.

“You’ve got this,” Madden whispered. “Take all the time you need.”

She took a few more seconds to calm the frantic beat of her heart before continuing. “Dad pushed me out of the way. I was so scared, so confused, and when I finally looked around, I saw him on the ground. I started screaming. The rest is a little murky.”

Deputy Sanders cleared his throat. “What about you, Madden?”

Madden stayed crouched in front of Lily with his hands wrapped around hers, but he shifted his attention to the deputy.

“I was in Tilly’s with Reid and Eve. I heard gunshots then the window shattered.

I heard Lily screaming, people yelling. I ran outside and found Lily and Mr. Tremont. I stayed with them until you came.”

“And the truck?”

“Already gone by the time I made it outside. I did notice a flash of black when it sped around the corner, but that’s about it.”

Deputy Sanders nodded. “Most everyone has the same story. Lily, is there anyone you know who’d want to hurt your father?”

She reared back her head as if slapped. “Are you serious?”

He nodded.

“Sir, you know my dad. He’s never hurt a fly—never would. He doesn’t have trouble with anyone. This has to be one of those freak accidents. Another random shooting where we were at the wrong place at the wrong time.” Her voice caught as the whole horrible event played on repeat again in her mind.

“You may be right.” On a heavy sigh, Deputy Sanders pushed to his feet. “I wish your dad luck, and if there’s anything else you remember, give me a call.”

Unable to speak, she nodded.

“You okay to get yourself home tonight?” the deputy asked.

“My truck’s still in town, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll be here with Dad. He won’t want to be alone.”

“You’ll need to get some rest,” Madden said. “Not to mention a change of clothes. Toiletries. Once you’re ready, I can drive you home to grab some things for both you and your dad. He’ll probably want some personal items as well.”

Madden might be right, but she’d have to be peeled off this chair and carted away before willingly leaving her father.

A wave of exhaustion slapped her on the face, and she leaned back in her chair. “My mind can’t even go to what happens next. Right now, I just need to think about this surgery and Dad surviving.”

“No problem. We’ll wait and when you’re ready, we’ll figure it out.”

“You’re still a good kid, Madden,” Deputy Sanders said. “Thanks for sticking with Lily through all this.”

A sudden jolt of realization struck Lily like a bolt of lightning. Madden wasn’t supporting her out of the goodness of his heart. He was using her tragedy as his next stop on the campaign trail to make himself look good.

Yanking back her hands, she jutted her chin and pressed her lips in a firm line. “I don’t need Madden to sit with me. I’m fine on my own, and when the time comes that I need to go home, I’ll figure it out. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

She jumped to her feet so fast, Madden almost fell to the floor before righting himself and standing, a frown turning down his full lips.

She ignored the hurt in his eyes and confusion from the deputy, but she couldn’t quite ignore the feeling of loneliness as she walked away, leaving behind the man who’d brought her nothing but comfort in one of the hardest times of her life.

But that comfort was an act. A farce. A way to manipulate people into forgetting the sins of his family. And no matter how she yearned for the sturdy touch of his hand, she refused to be used.

Especially by Madden McKay.

* * *

Anger boiled in Madden’s gut as he stormed out of the hospital and drove to his father’s ranch.

He blasted the air conditioner, but the cold temperature did nothing to cool him.

Damn it, he’d spent hours by Lily’s side, supporting and comforting her while she waited in fear for news of her father.

Her sudden change of attitude gave him whiplash.

Whatever. Not his problem. He’d acted out of kindness and compassion. An impulse to jump into a horrible situation and actually help. If she didn’t want him around, fine. He’d leave her to worry alone in her bloodstained shirt.

A pang of guilt battled through the anger. People lashed out when they were scared, and Lily had every reason to be upset right now. Maybe he should have stayed. Even if only in his truck so he was nearby if she needed something.

Tightening his grip on the steering wheel, he ignored the sudden impulse to head back to the hospital and instead drove under the dirty, white letters announcing he’d arrived at McKay Ranch.

He parked next to his brother’s old, dusty truck in front of the ancient barn that was now used for storage.

Overgrown grass filled the pasture beside the barn, the split-railed fence caging in nothing but dirt and weeds.

Madden blew out a long breath and tried to shut off all thoughts of Lily as he hopped out of the truck and climbed the familiar wooden steps of the wraparound porch.

The chipped, white paint matched the two-story farmhouse where he’d been raised.

A sprinkling of wildflowers clustered at the base of the house, but the home-made window boxes his mom used to always fill with vibrant blooms were empty.

Since Mama’s death years before, no one had the heart to fill them.

His dad, Walter McKay, sat in one of two rocking chairs, baggy overalls covering his slim frame, his ever-present pipe in his hand. “Heard you had one hell of a day.”

“One of the worst,” he said, settling into the chair beside his dad. The sun hovered above the mountains in the distance and sent bursts of orange through the darkening sky.

He’d spent countless evenings rocking on this porch, staring at the sunset or watching the clouds. Sitting next to his old man, discussing his problems. It’d been a long time since he needed one of those chats, but after the day he’d had, nothing could soothe him like this.

“Dax is inside. He can grab you a beer. Might help calm your nerves.”

“Maybe in a bit.” Madden removed his cowboy hat and rested it in his lap. “I need a minute.”

“How’s Kevin doin’?” Walter asked with his gaze fixed on the horizon. “He might not be my favorite person, but he didn’t deserve to be shot down in the street like a rabid dog.”

“He was still in surgery when I left.”

Walter turned hard, gray eyes on him. “What about his girl? You leave her there alone?”

So much for not thinking about Lily any more today.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “She told me to leave.”

“And you listened? That’s gotta be a first. Hope someone was there with her. No one should be alone when waiting to find out if a loved one will live or die.” Walter returned his attention to the cloudless sky.

Madden winced. His father’s words had landed like a missile. Lily hadn’t called anyone to join her at the hospital, but that wasn’t his problem. He’d done more than was expected, and Lily had made it clear his company wasn’t wanted.

Hell, if he’d stayed, she probably would have found a way to get him thrown out of the damn hospital.

“Anyway,” Walter said, as if sensing Madden’s desire to change the subject. “Any ideas who took those shots?”

“Deputy Sanders didn’t say much but sounds like there are no suspects. Not even sure if it was a random act of violence or not.”

Walter lifted his pipe to his thin lips and puffed. “Not a ton of violence like that in these parts. A few rowdy tourists have caused some trouble in the past year, but nothing on this scale.”

His dad might be right, but Madden couldn’t be sure if Walter believed his words or just wanted them to be true since his actions were what brought those tourists to town. Guilt was a heavy burden, one Walter carried on shoulders that grew frailer every day.

“Well,” Madden said, ignoring the wistful sadness in his dad’s voice, “let’s hope they catch whoever did this fast. No one wants a violent criminal roaming the streets.”

“I hope for Kevin’s daughter’s sake this wasn’t a targeted attack. They might want to make sure they finish the job.”

The knots in Madden’s stomach tightened. He’d never thought whoever shot Lily’s father could show up and attack him again if he survived the surgery, and he’d left her all alone. With no protection. He should return to the hospital. Stay near just in case.

No. She’d told him to leave. She was a capable woman with plenty of people to call if she needed help.

Besides, even if Lily was in trouble, he was the last person she’d want around.