“Della,” he calls, stopping both of us with a hand on my arm. “Since you’ve been home, it’s nothing but tension between you and Maddox.”
I look up at him and wonder to myself why he’s even out here talking to me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” That’s a lie, and I know it. I also know Tyler’s right.
“What happened to you yesterday struck a nerve with your brother. I may have been the one who found William out in the pasture, but your brother got that call. Hearing that shit about you on the radio, it fucked with his head.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not dead. I’m alive.” I wonder, though if maybe Maddox would have wanted me to have died. At least then he’d have gotten the full ranch.
“Your brother lives and breathes for this ranch, Della,” Tyler grunts. “I work every damn day alongside him and know what the stress is like for him. You need to get your head out of your ass and stop being a bitch. The world doesn’t revolve around you. And you’re taking unnecessary risks when he’s got a lot on his plate.”
“He has nothing to worry about. Besides, if he’d been so worried about me, why didn’t he come up to the hospital? Why was I there all night by myself? Why . . .” I stop myself before I continue and end up saying what I was about to. I knew what was about to slip out. That wasn’t about to happen. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.”
“Della,” Tyler starts, but I pull my arm from his grip.
“I don’t want to hear it.” I put my AirPods back in my ears, start my music, and take off at a dead run.
I don’t know what the hell I’m running away from, but regardless, that’s what I’m doing, running away. I sprint, not run. Sweat coats my skin from the exertion and humidity of the day. The entire way back, I know Tyler’s behind me. I get he was trying to be a friend, only he didn’t have the right to stick his nose where it didn’t belong. My life was no one’s business but my own.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Della
Entering the house through the back door, I’m thankful that Judy isn’t anywhere to be seen. I’m not in the mood for a lecture from her. Not after I almost revealed the secret to Tyler. Why did I do that?
I let out a heavy breath and shake my head. I didn’t need this—none of it.
Tyler had been out of line with what he said.
Moving to the fridge, I open the door and quickly pull out a bottle of water, needing something to help the dryness of my throat. I usually wouldn’t have sprinted all the way back here, only it felt like the devil himself had been chasing me, and I needed to push myself to get away from him.
Logically, I knew it was only Tyler and he meant well. Only I couldn’t think logically. I was nearing a panic attack.
Drinking my water, I shake off the thoughts about the reasons and do my best to calm myself.
Once I have my emotions in check, I make my way through the house, up the stairs for yet another shower to wash the sweat away. I keep it short. There’s no reason to take any longer than I have to. Not when I could be doing other things.
Like my granddaddy put in his Will. He’d like to see me take on a role here at the ranch, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Sure, I know how to help out getting my hands dirty, but that’s Maddox’s department. What I can do is help him in other ways. Similar to what I did for a living, I can handle the books.
Before I can do that, though, I need to see where we’re at with the numbers coming and going.
I finish the shower, dry off, wrap the towel around me, and open the door. I quickly cross the hall into my room. It doesn’t take me long to dress in a pair of jeans and a tee. Living here, I’ll need to buy some more casual clothes rather than wearing dressy ones. No reason for business attire on the ranch.
With a plan in place in my mind, I step out of my room, making sure to stop back in the bathroom to gather my dirty clothes. I take them downstairs to the laundry room. Judy already has a load going, but I’ll get one in after she finishes. Or maybe tonight at least.
I grab another bottle of water from the kitchen and head for the office. Everything I’ll need is in there, so I won’t have to track Maddox down to find it.
The moment I step in the office, a twinge of pain hits me once more, remembering the days I’d sit in here with Granddaddy. While I did homework on the floor, he would be working at his desk. I was never allowed to skimp on my schoolwork. Not that I would. It was time I enjoyed with him. After dinner, he caught up on what he needed to do, and I did what I was required for school.
The bittersweet memory is one I’ll never forget.
Sucking in a harsh breath, I round the desk and take a seat in the big comfy chair that’s been in this room for as long as I can remember.
I pull out the books, groaning at the fact that everything is actually paper still and not been digitized. It would’ve made things so much simpler. Maybe Maddox will be down with me doing that and making his life easier and, well, mine.
For now, I’ll get through the papers and notate what needs to be done.
Hours after going through the books, I’m mentally drained from sifting through everything.
