“He’ll call soon,” Judy says, not looking up from the stove.“And Della girl will be just fine.There’s no other option.This place has seen too much damn tragedy.God wouldn’t take that girl from us too.”
I nod even though she can’t see me.
Judy hasn’t stopped cooking since I filled her in when I got back from taking Dylan to school.Three batches of biscuits, a mountain of scrambled eggs, bacon crisping in the pan.Her hands tremble slightly as she flips pancakes, and I recognize the nervous energy for what it is.Sometimes your hands need something to do when your heart is breaking.
I wrap my hands around the coffee mug and take another sip, my eyes falling to my phone that sits on the kitchen table.I’ve called Maddox a bunch of times, and it gone straight to voicemail every time.I even tried calling Shadow, and I got the same response.
Nothing.
The sound of the front door opening has Judy and I turning our heads.Heavy boots clunk across the floorboards, and then Maddox appears in the kitchen doorway, exhaustion clouding his face.His eyes are bloodshot, and the stubble that darkens his jaw seems to have grown overnight.My heart lurches at the sight, and before I even realize it, I’m on my feet.My arms wrap around his waist, and I press my body against his, welcoming the sound of his steady heartbeat against my ear.
His hands slide down my back, and his lips brush across the top of my head.
“Hey, baby,” he murmurs.
“How’s Della?”Judy asks from behind me.“Please tell me our girl is going to make it.”
Maddox pulls away slightly, looking down at me.“She’s alive,” he says, his voice rough with exhaustion.“They had to remove her spleen, and she’s pretty banged up physically.Several broken ribs, a concussion, some internal bleeding.”
My stomach drops as he lists her injuries, but I guide him to the table where he sinks into a chair.Judy abandons her post at the stove and joins us, wringing her hands.
“But the doctor is very optimistic,” Maddox continues, rubbing a hand over his face.“She’s stable now.They got to her in time.”
“Thank God,” I whisper.
Judy’s shoulders sag with relief.“Our prayers have been answered.”She crosses herself and wipes at her eyes with the corner of her apron.
“How long will she be in the hospital?”I ask, pouring Maddox a cup of coffee and sliding it across to him.
“About a week, they think.Depends on how she heals.”
Judy leans forward.“Can I visit her?I want to bring her some decent food.That hospital food is awful.”
A ghost of a smile touches Maddox’s lips.“Yeah.They’re moving her out of ICU later today.Once that happens, she’ll be able to have more visitors.”He takes a long sip of coffee.“Right now, they allow only one person in at a time, and Shadow doesn’t look like he’s leaving any time soon.”His expression softens.“I’m actually surprised he let me stay with her for as long as he did.”
While I’m happy Della is safe, there’s still so much that doesn’t make sense.
“Do we know who took her?”I finally ask, hoping I don’t sound insensitive.
Maddox’s jaw tightens.“Landry Oil.”
“The company that wanted to buy the land?”My mind races, connecting the dots.I suppose that makes sense, but what about the bar?I thought both attacks were connected.Why would Landry Oil destroy Rodeo Roundup?
Judy gasps behind me.“Someone was trying to force you to sell the ranch?”
“Yeah,” Maddox nods.“But it’s all taken care of now.”He turns to me, his eyes softening.“No one is taking the land or anyone on it.It’s all over.We can breathe again.”
“What about the bar, though?Do we know who was responsible for that?”
“Landry Oil was behind everything, Amelia.They wanted revenge on both the ranch and the club.”
I suppose that makes sense since the club is part owner of the bar, but there is still one piece of the puzzle I can’t place.“And Russell?”
Maddox sighs.“Russell didn’t know where they took Della.He was just a fucking pawn to get information on the ranch.He can’t be around, Dylan.I think you need to really see about that order of protection sooner rather later.”
I nod slowly, my stomach tightening.The thought of Russell anywhere near my son makes my skin crawl.I’m so over that man.
“I’ll call an attorney first thing in the morning.”
