“Aunt Grace, don’t leave!” Jake shouted from the hospital bed in the busy ER. A doctor had just examined him and they were waiting to send him to get his head and arm scanned. A nurse was tucking pillows in behind him and adjusting the TV remote for his good hand.
“I’m not, honey. I’m just going behind this curtain to talk to Ms. Clark. We’ll be right here.” She motioned for Madison to follow, then yanked the curtain closed behind them just before she started in. “Just what the hell happened? Why weren’t you watching him? Why—”
“Don’t speak to me like that,” Madison whispered, anger on her face.
“I’m sorry. How should I speak to you now that my nephew is laid up in a hospital bed from a fall at your ranch? Should I be polite? Do I not have enough manners for you?” She was so sick of the high-and-mighty attitude of Madison Clark.
“Frankly, no, you don’t. You’ve been rude from day one. Inconsiderate of the rules—”
“Rude? Excuse me? You’re the one who’s been rude.” What was with this woman? Grace was so mad she could just haul off and hit something. She considered screaming into the pillow of the empty bed next to them and pummeling it into nonexistence.
“Enough,” Madison said.
“No, it’s not enough. Tell me what the hell happened to my nephew!” She had to lower her voice, praying Jake couldn’t hear.
“Why don’t you ask him?”
“I did.”
“And what did he say?”
“That he tried to ride a horse on his own.”
Madison pulled the curtain open and stood next to Jake. “Tell your aunt what happened today.”
He hesitated. “I did.”
“All of it.”
“I—”
“Remember the rule about lying.”
He closed his eyes. “Fine.”
The nurse left them, and Madison fingered down the volume on the TV remote. Grace grew nervous, not liking the look on either one’s face.
“I had to do shit chores again today, and Ms. Clark wouldn’t let me work with this cool horse named Draco.”
“Tell it without the cursing.”
“He’s on my time now,” Grace interrupted. “Jake, no cursing.” She blushed at how ridiculous she’d just sounded.
“So I got tired of shoveling sh—uh, crap and I threw down my shovel and took off. I saw the horse, grabbed the reins, stood on the fence, and climbed on.” He smiled. “I rode him a good ways too.”
“Before he bucked you off,” Madison said, crossing her arms, obviously displeased.
“And where were you when this happened?” Grace asked Madison.
“On my patio doing paperwork.”
“Paperwork?”
Madison crossed back behind the curtain, jerked her head at Grace to follow, and then pulled the curtain closed.
“Do not question me like that in front of him. It brings my authority into question.”
“That’s exactly what it’s meant to do.”
“Look, Jake was assigned to a chore with another boy. Two staff members were in the stable with them. When he took off, he took off at a run. The whole thing was over in less than two minutes. No one could’ve stopped him or foreseen what he was going to do. When we did, my staff and I reacted right away. He’s lucky he’s okay.”
“You’re damn right he is.” How could she stand there so calmly and relay this story, as if none of it was her fault? Jake was hurt! Terrified and shaken. “He won’t be coming back to the ranch.”
Madison stared at her for a long moment. Then she removed her cowboy hat to reveal the sweat-coated blue bandana wrapped around her head. Grace could smell dirt, sweat, and suntan lotion. Strangely, it stirred her. She forced herself to look away from the intense stormy eyes and sun-kissed sharp cheekbones.
“I just don’t think it’s the best place for Jake,” Grace said.
Madison sank onto the empty bed behind her. “It is the best place. And this event should prove that to you.”
“Him getting hurt? Are you insane?” She had to look away again. Madison was sitting there with her elbows on her knees and hat in hands. She looked so handsome and hard-worked. And beautifully…butch.
“He got hurt because he didn’t follow the rules. He doesn’t like the ranch because he doesn’t follow the rules.”
“Rules. That’s all you talk about.”
“Perhaps that’s what you need more of.”
“Excuse me? Don’t tell me how to raise my nephew.”
“I’m not. I merely suggested.”
“Aunt Grace?”
They came out from behind the curtain to see a worker wearing scrubs maneuvering the bed to roll away. “Time for his CT scan,” he said with a smile.
“Aunt Grace, no. Tell them you have to come.” He began to panic and the color drained from his face.
“I need to go with him,” she said.
“You can’t go in the room with him. I’m sorry.”
Jake began to wail and breathe heavily. Madison went to his side and took his uninjured hand. She looked at the worker. “We are going with him. As far as we can.” When the worker didn’t respond, Madison took him by the elbow to the door. “Otherwise this will continue and you will have to sedate a thirteen-year-old boy.”
“Okay, okay.” He nodded quickly.
“Jake, I’m coming with you,” Grace said, trying to get him to stop. “Shh, I’m right here.” She patted his hand. “I’m coming. See?” She walked next to the bed as the worker pushed it down the hall.
“I want Ms. Clark. Ms. Clark too.”
“She’s waiting for us in the room.”
“No! Ms. Clark!” he called out. “Ms. Clark!”
Madison came out of the room and hurried to his side. “Jake, you need to calm down.” She looked at Grace with obvious questions in her eyes.
“Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m here, Jake,” Grace added and he finally calmed with her on one side and Madison on the other. They entered a room where two other workers looked at them with surprise. The one pushing shook his head as if to say don’t ask. Grace helped Jake move onto the small sliding bench. Madison too came to his side.
“Jake, I know how these things work. First of all, it doesn’t touch you. Secondly, you just lie still and your aunt and I will be behind the window. We aren’t leaving you. We will be right here.”
Grace was amazed when he didn’t argue. The workers nodded in agreement and gave him further instructions.
“You swear you won’t leave?” he asked Madison.
Grace took his hand. “I swear.”
“I want her to say it.”
The demand stung, but Grace would do and take whatever was necessary for him to get the scan done.
“I swear,” Madison said.
“Okay,” he breathed. “Okay.”
They moved into a control room and Grace waved at him through the window. He looked so small and fragile lying there on the sliding bench. She saw his good hand clench as the workers eased him into the hole of the machine. He lay very still as the procedure was carried out and his head scanned. She held her breath, afraid he would move. Madison broke the silence.
“Why is he so afraid?”
“He—” Grace glanced at her and looked away; Madison’s eyes were too penetrating. “When he was five he was taken to the hospital with his mother, who had apparently overdosed on something. He was left next to her on the hospital floor and when he wandered off to get help, they were separated. From a distance, he saw the doctors begin CPR and stab a needle into her. He was convinced they had killed her. He hid in room after room in the middle of the night with sick and dying people. When nurses saw him they tried to help, but he just kept running. When they finally caught him he was nearly catatonic with shock and exhaustion. To make matters worse, he was then brought to his mother to identify her and she was unconscious, hooked up to machines. It only terrified him more. He’s never gone near a hospital since.”
“That explains a lot,” Madison whispered.
“Yes.”
“He’s been through a lot, hasn’t he?”
This time Grace met her eyes. “More than you can imagine.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“For what?”
“For him.”
Grace pressed her lips together and nodded. He’d been through too much, and she felt so damned responsible for not knowing most of it until recently.
“And for you.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Grace saw the sincerity in her eyes and her heart warmed so profusely she thought her lungs would melt in sheer bliss. “Don’t be,” she whispered. “I love him, through thick and thin, and I’d do anything for him.”
“Then let him keep coming to the ranch.”
“I—” But she didn’t know what to say. The day’s events had traumatized both her and Jake. She needed time to think.
The CT scan was finished, and they walked alongside Jake’s gurney to the x-ray room. Madison didn’t say anything else, and Grace was relieved. She couldn’t yet make a decision, and she wasn’t about to make one when her body was overreacting to a little kindness. It didn’t help matters when they returned to the ER and Madison held Jake’s hand as his brow was stitched up. She told him calm stories of the ranch and about all the horses and what they’d persevered through. She told him about some of her former boys, and Grace found herself captivated as well, caught up in her smooth voice, her deep eyes, and the calm way in which she spoke.
Jake was so quiet and still the doctor had to ask if he was still awake when he finished.
“Yeah.”
“Good job. You’re all set.”
They splinted his arm after confirming a sprain and gave him some pain medication for both his arm and his bruised head. All in all, he came out okay.
Grace asked to speak to Madison once again behind the curtain while a nurse tried to cheer Jake up. “I wanted to thank you for coming,” she said.
Madison slipped off her bandana and sat on the bed, running her hand through her thick dirty blond layers.
“I’m glad I could help. I feel really bad about what happened.” Her cheekbones were tinged red from the sun. “Had I known he was going for Draco…”
“I know,” Grace said softly, trying hard not to stare at her. “You’re…” Gorgeous. Strong. Caring. Beautiful. “Not responsible for what Jake did.”
“Tomorrow, things will change.”
Grace bit her lower lip, knowing Madison was taking it to heart. “Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks. Jake’s really taken to you, and I have to admit after today…”
Madison looked up.
“After today…I thought I was going to have to kill you. But now…”
“We’re okay?”
“Yes.”
Madison chuckled and rose. “That’s nice to hear.”
“No, I mean it,” Grace said, taking her arm gently. Madison stared at her hand and stood very still. “Thank you.”
Madison looked into her eyes and blinked slowly. “You’re welcome.”
Grace released her, but only after she felt both their breathing change. Something was happening between them, and there was no denying it now.
“That woman…that EMT.”
“Yes?” Madison gripped the curtain after shoving her bandana in her back pocket.
“She hit on you, didn’t she?”
The flush on Madison’s face was obvious and spread all the way up to her ears. “I think she was trying to help.”
“Who? Jake or you?”
Madison didn’t respond, just glanced away.
Grace laughed. “I thought so.” She pulled the curtain open and left Madison blushing, not mentioning just how damn jealous it had made her.
“Ready to go, kiddo?”
The nurse helped by wheeling him out to the main doors. There Grace took his arm as Madison followed.
“Thank you for coming,” Grace said again to Madison as they walked to their vehicles.
“You’re welcome.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Jake said.
“Don’t you have something else to say to Ms. Clark?” Grace said.
The sun was no longer bright, but it was strong enough to cause him to squint. “I guess I’m sorry,” he said. “For you know, doing that.”
“You guess?”
“Yeah. I mean yes, ma’am. I mean, I am sorry. I should’ve just done my dumb chores.”
“Okay. Apology accepted. But you tacked on another day of those dumb chores.”
“What? The crap chores?”
“Yes.”
“Man! But I only got one arm.”
“We’ll work it out.”
“Come on, Jake.” Grace led him to the car and she watched briefly as Madison Clark walked away toward the half-hanging sun, placing her cowboy hat back on her head.
*
A few hours later, Grace had given Jake a pain pill and helped him to bed. He had fallen asleep quickly, arm propped up on a pillow. It was nearing seven o’clock when her doorbell rang. She pulled it open quickly and smiled at Ally Murphy.
“Come in.”
“He’s asleep?” Ally asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Grace led them into the living room where she offered her a glass of chardonnay. She didn’t know much about wine, but it seemed appropriate. She’d had a long, tiring day and Ally probably had too. They settled on the sofa.
“So he got hurt, huh? At the ranch?”
“Yes. And I’m telling you, I just don’t think it’s the right place for him, Ally.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.”
“Why not?”
“Well, he got hurt, for God’s sake.”
“He could get hurt a lot worse in juvie.”
“Don’t they have guards in juvie?”
“Yes, but I’m not just talking physical. I’m talking mental. It’s prison, Grace. The kids in there are in no way a good influence. And if he gets institutionalized, it will be all he knows and all he expects.”
Grace sighed. “Well, what about this Madison Clark? Is she really the best for this sort of…instance?” Even though she was asking the question, she hoped the answer would be a positive one. There was something about Madison that made Grace want to know more.
“Madison’s one of the best in the business. She knows her stuff and she’s been working with troubled kids for years.”
“I’m not sure what to think of her.”
Ally laughed. “I didn’t say she was overly friendly.”
“You got that right. I mean, she wasn’t at first, that’s for sure.” Was she now? Who knew how she’d be tomorrow or the next day.
“But she works wonders with those boys. I think she could do well with Jake too if given a chance.”
“I don’t know, Ally. I mean, he got hurt and she was pretty rude to me.”
“Rude?”
“Yes, and at first I thought she was going to refuse to take responsibility.”
“You thought she should be watching him every second?”
“Yes, don’t you?”
“From what I understand, those boys are supervised just fine. It’s not a place for violent offenders. Only those like Jake. And the only complaints I’ve heard are from parents who, you know, don’t like the rules.”
“Oh my God, you sound like her. So infuriating!” She stood and began to pace. “And she can be so rude and matter-of-fact and I don’t know, I just think Jake needs to be better supervised.”
“Such as in prison?”
“No.” She sat again. “Isn’t there somewhere else? Boot camp or something?”
“If Jake won’t follow the rules at Healing Soul, do you really think he will at boot camp?”
“I just don’t know what to do. If she wasn’t so damn—”
“Right?”
“What?”
Ally set her glass on the coffee table. “Sounds like your problem is more with Madison Clark rather than anything else.”
“You’re—”
Ally raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow. “Jake disobeyed and ran to a horse. It wasn’t saddled, no one was with it, and from what you said, the staff chased after him as quickly as they could. I think Jake got himself into a heap of trouble and they handled it pretty well. He’s safe, and luckily he’s okay.” She stood. “If you expect Madison to do something about it, tell her. I’m sure she will anyway. Jake will most likely have to work off what he did in running or chores.”
Grace felt defeated, like the air had been let out of her anger balloon. “She did. She said he would have another day of the chores he doesn’t like and that things would be different tomorrow.”
“Then there you go. Madison isn’t a yeller or a reactive-type person. She’s very stoic.”
“I guess. Damn it, Ally, you’re supposed to be on my side here.”
She laughed. “I am. And Jake’s too.” She placed her glass next to Grace’s.
“You think I should let him go back.”
“Yes.”
“And I should trust this woman.”
“Yes. Now why don’t you tell me the real problem, Grace?”
“Sorry?”
“Why you don’t like her?”
“I’m not following.”
“It’s because you’re attracted to her, aren’t you?”
“What? No. No of course not.” She stood again, flustered.
“Then why call me all the way over here, Grace? Just to complain about a strange woman? I’m not buying it.”
Grace started to chew her nail but knew it looked too obviously nervous. Why did I call her over? Why am I bitching about Madison so much when we basically made peace? Why can’t I just forget her?
That was it. She was trying to force her from her mind by being with Ally.
“You’re wrong,” was all she could think to say.
“Then relax, will you? And tell me why I’m here.” She smiled seductively.
“I—I’m not sure.”
“Well, come sit and we can figure it out.”
“I think I’m just overly stressed.”
“I think maybe you are. Now why don’t we forget about Madison Clark for a while and you show me your bedroom?”
Grace laughed as Ally touched her face.
“I’m not sure.”
“About what? Showing me your bedroom or Madison Clark?”
Both. “I told you I’m not into her.”
Ally grinned and leaned in to whisper, “Then let’s go in the bedroom. We’ll lock the door and I’ll stifle your cries with my fingers.”
Grace inhaled sharply as she felt Ally’s tongue tease her ear. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. Let me do this for you, baby. Just let me.”
“I don’t usually—”
“Shh, don’t think. Just feel. Now show me to the bedroom.”
Their hands interlaced and Grace found herself leading the way. Her body hummed warmly and her mind felt numb. When she entered her room and turned, Ally closed the door, locked it, and came at her like a huntress of the night, kissing her softly but deeply. Grace fought to speak, but Ally wouldn’t let her, covering her in kisses and firm caresses, undressing her in a matter of seconds. Her hand found her thighs and trailed upward where it found her center already wet and trembling.
“Oh, yes. That feels good,” Ally said. “You’re so ready for me.”
Grace felt her eyes close and all she could think about were Ally’s words.
Let’s forget about Madison Clark for a while.
The phrase repeated, but she couldn’t let Madison’s image escape from the clutches of her mind. The way she looked when she said she was sorry, the way she held Jake’s hand and insisted they go with him for the scan. She was so powerful in those moments and so roughly beautiful in others. She was a rose with thorns. A beautiful, beautiful rose just completely covered in thorns, almost impossible to see or touch.
“Lie down,” Ally said, already stroking her so well she was yearning to come.
Grace considered arguing. She was the one usually in control. But her thoughts of Madison and the strokes of Ally’s hand were so sweet and burningly blissful she didn’t care. She just wanted to let herself go and feel nothing but erotic touch and pressure and—
“Oh,” she cried as she lay back and Ally buried her head between her legs. “Oh, God.” Her tongue and lips were like fire, licking her short and hard. She held her head and closed her eyes. “Oh, oh, oh.”
Let’s just forget about Madison Clark for a while.
When she opened her eyes again and looked down, it was Madison’s head between her legs, Madison’s mouth, Madison’s intense eyes. And with that vision locked in her mind, she threw her herself back, dug her fingers into her sheets, and came into the night.