Brody (8 page)

“Can
I help you carry anything into the den?” he asked.

“That’s
very kind of you, Brody,” said Betty. “If you could take this dip and salsa,
that would be great.”

He
took the bowl and platter from them, trying not to make eye contact with his
two half- brothers. He’d only just met them, but he already disliked him. If it
wouldn’t seem rude to Branndon Sr., what he really wanted to do was grab
Maddie’s hand and run the hell away from here and never come back.

Chapter Nine

Maddie
guessed something was wrong with Brody. He was quiet on the drive back to her
place, and she figured maybe he was tired. Meeting all your new family had to
be overwhelming, especially when you weren’t in the best of health.

“You
want to come in and have some coffee?” she asked him when he pulled up outside
her place.

“No,
I’m feeling sort of achy. Do you mind if I just drop you off and not come in?
We’ll go Christmas shopping tomorrow so I can get Ted’s fly fishing gear.”

“Sure,
I’ll look forward to it.”

She
waved him good-bye and worried for the next hour or so. She was a teacher of
little kids, and she’d gained a sixth sense when something wasn’t right with
them. She’d seen despair on Brody’s face when he’d returned from the kitchen
about an hour into their arrival at Branndon’s place. Jackson and Branndon Jr.
had been out there too, and she wondered if they’d already had words. Sometimes,
families could be a pain in the butt.

Maddie
looked at her cell phone. It was past midnight and if he was just tired, then
maybe he’d be asleep by now so the last thing he’d need is her call waking him.
She bit her nails and continued to look at the phone. He’d helped her in an
hour of need, and she had to do the same for him.

Before
she changed her mind and thought too much into it, she jabbed her index finger
on the numbers. He didn’t answer and she assumed, just as she’d thought, he was
already fast asleep. She was about to end the call when she heard his voice on
the other end.

“Maddie,
you okay?

“I
phoned to ask
you
that.”

He
didn’t respond.

“Silence
is a dead giveaway,” she said.

“Branndon’s
sons hate me, and they don’t want him to give up a kidney for me.”

“What,
they told you that? Those assholes said that to your face?”

“No,
not to my face, but I overheard them talking. Even Betty has her reservations
but said she’ll go along with whatever decision Brannon makes.”

“Branndon
wants to do this for you, and that’s all that matters, not two conceited
cowboys.”

“Conceited
cowboys—is that what you thought of them?”

“Yeah,
that about sums them up. No wonder they’ve never settled down. They probably
don’t think any women are good enough for them.”

“I
want to like them and to be their friend if only for Branndon’s sake, but how
can I be now that I know what they think of me?”

“Finding
out about you was probably a huge shock for them. You know, sibling rivalry.
Something neither of us had to deal with.”

“That’s
true. You are such a wise old woman for such a young, sexy one.”

“Pity
I can’t sort out my own problems.”

“Guess
it always helps to see it from someone else’s perspective.” Brody started
coughing.

“You
okay?”

“Yeah,
just a bit achy and tired. I’ve been sweating since I got back, and I think I
might have a cold coming or something.”

“You
want me to come over just in case you need something?”

“Maddie,
that’s so sweet of you, but it’s close to midnight.”

“I
know, but you don’t have anyone else here to take care of you. I’ll be
returning the favor you did for me when you rode me home on the horse.”

He
laughed and coughed again. “Guess I could do with some company.”

“Hang
tight, and I’ll be there before you know it.”

****

Brody
looked at himself in the mirror and coughed. He was sure it was more
psychological than physical. The shock of overhearing Jackson and Branndon Jr.
What if their dad was a perfect match and they talked him out of being a donor?
What if he did donate and died? His two half-brothers would hate him even more.

The
knock on the door jarred him out of his doom-and-gloom line of thinking. He
walked out of the bathroom, over to the door, and opened it to see Maddie, her
hat and shoulders covered in snow and a bag slung over her arm.

“It’s
beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” she said, stepping inside. She shook
off the snow and then took off her coat.

“I
made some apple drink that’s perfect if you feel like you’re getting a cold. I
even brought along my pop-up Christmas tree that I thought might cheer you up.”

“Pop-up
tree,” said Brody.

She
unzipped the bag and lifted out a tabletop tree complete with lights. She
placed it on the table by the coffeemaker and plugged it in. “I bought it last
year during the New Year sales. I’m a penny-pincher, by the way.”

“My
sort of girl.”

“Go
sit back in bed and I’ll warm this drink in the microwave.”

“I
can see why you became a teacher,” said Brody sliding under the covers.

“Why?”

“You
like telling people what to do.”

She
turned around and looked at him. “Is that your polite way of saying I’m bossy?”

Brody
shook his head and coughed just as the microwave tinged. Maddie took out a mug
with steam rising up from it and carried it over to him.

“Sip
this while I get ready for bed.”

“My
bed?”

“You
see anywhere else to sleep?”

Brody
expected her to change into a T-shirt or whatever, but she just took off
everything and was soon naked before him.

“You
have five o’clock shadow,” he said, pointing to her crotch.

“I
know, and it’s started to itch like hell. You think I should go get another
wax?”

“I
told you, you’ve got a pretty crotch and pussy, and I’d show it off if I were
you.”

“You’ve
convinced me, and I’ll endure the pain yet again.”

She
climbed in beside him and snuggled up to him.

“This
drink is pretty good.”

“You
feeling better?”

“I
did as soon as you walked through the door.”

“I
know something that will make you feel even better.” She stroked his cock,
which was already hard from seeing her naked.

“What
do you think I should do about the situation with Branndon’s two boys?”

“Ignore
them. They’re probably jealous that they have to share their dad with someone
else and an older brother on top of that,” said Maddie, running her fingers
around the top of his shaft.

“If
you keep this up, I’m going to come pretty soon.”

“That’s
the whole idea. Hot drink, a nice orgasm, and then a good night’s sleep.”

Brody
put the mug on the side table. “I’d hate for it to go to waste, so you want to
hop on for a ride?”

He
pulled out a condom and handed it to her.

“I
thought you said you seldom climaxed when a woman rode you?”

Maddie
ripped open the package and shook out the rubber. She pulled back the covers
and began to roll it onto Brody’s shaft.

“Yeah,
but you’re not just any woman.”

“Is
that a good thing or not?”

Maddie
slid her leg over his thighs as he lifted up his dick and let her slide her
pussy down on it.

“It’s
a very good thing.”

She
began moving up and down, and soon he forgot about what he’d overheard and how
he felt. She was so beautiful rising up and down above him. Looking down at
him, lifting her arms up as she began groaning. She leaned over, her nipples
brushing his chest, and they kissed as she bounced some more. Brody slapped
both her ass cheeks, making her groan louder.

He
was just about holding on, waiting for her to climax. He moved his hips,
feeling his cock hit the back of her pussy wall, making her cry into the side
of his face.

“I
love your cock,” she whispered.

Music
to any man’s ears. Now it was time for him to find his release.

Chapter Ten

“Looks
like Dad’s here,” said Brody. He let the drapes fall back and walked to open
the door.

Maddie
checked her hair in the mirror. This was a little like meeting Mark’s folks for
the first time, although this wasn’t quite the same. She and Brody weren’t
dating.

“Dad,
great to see you,” said Brody, throwing his arm around the man that was a good
foot shorter than him.

“You
doing okay?” he asked. He looked over at Maddie. Ted was older than she’d
imagined but a fine looking man with a grey crew cut and a strong jawline.

“And
this must be Maddie, whom I’ve heard so much about.”

Maddie
put out her hand to shake Ted’s but instead he pulled her to him and hugged
her. “Thanks for being a good friend to my son while he’s been here. They’re
hard to find these days.”

“He’s
been a good friend to me as well. Guess he hasn’t told you he found me on the
day I became a runaway bride.”

“Runaway
bride…you don’t say, really?”

Maddie
nodded.

“Unfaithful
husband-to-be who was messing around with the best man,” said Brody.

“Messing
around…with the best man. Oh my.”

“Brody’s
told me lots about you too,” said Maddie, hoping they could change the topic.

“Probably
that like him I’m a cowboy, and that fly fishing is my passion.”

“And
that you’d get the award for best father of the year forever.”

Ted
shrugged his shoulders. “Kathleen blessed me with a fine boy, that’s all.”

“I’ve
not always been a saint. I’ve been trouble lots of times,” said Brody.

“That’s
true, but dads easily forget the bad stuff. And before I forget, I have my
wife’s meatloaf recipe for you to try, Maddie.” He pulled out an index card
from his pocket and handed it to her.

“I
made a copy from the recipe file.”

Maddie
looked at it. His mom had beautiful penmanship.

“So
has Branndon Mckinney been tested yet?” asked Ted.

“We’re
going to the hospital tomorrow. I thought you might like to come along and meet
him.”

“I
guess I’ll have to. Have one thing to thank him for, producing you and making
my life worth living again.”

Brody
threw his arms around his dad’s neck, and the two of them hugged. Maddie
couldn’t help but tear up.

“Let’s
hope he’s the perfect match, because I have a tough time living without your
mother. If anything happened to you, I don’t think I could go on another day.”

Brody
looked over at Maddie. He was crying too. Ted’s eyes also were watering.
Without saying a word, she walked over to both men and the three of them cried
and it quickly became a group embrace.

What she wouldn’t do to have these two guys as
part of her family.

Brody
opened the door for his dad. Branndon Sr. had been to the clinic earlier that
day and had tests run on him. Results would be back in a couple of days. They
were going to be the longest days of his life. One week exactly until Christmas
Eve. He’s always loved Christmas Eve more than he had Christmas Day. His mom
made cookies. Ted read the same Christmas story every year. When they tucked
him into bed, he’d hear them trying to be quiet and discreet as they put his
gifts under the tree pretending Santa had brought them to him. One time he’d
crept out of his room, stood at the top of the stairs, and watched them embrace
under the mistletoe.

Brody
thought it such a shame that Ted hadn’t been able to have kids of his own,
because he’d had enough love for a house full of them.

“There
you guys are,” shouted Branndon Sr. from inside the restaurant.

He’d
insisted they all go out for a meal so he could meet Ted.

He
headed their way with his fancy cowboy boots tapping across the linoleum floor.

“You
must be Ted Williams. I’m Branndon Mckinney, and it’s a pleasure to meet the
man who took care of my son for all these years.”

The
smack on the back he gave Ted almost knocked his dad off his feet.

“Great
to meet you too,” said Ted.

Two
very different men. Ted an introvert and soft-spoken, and Branndon Sr. as
extroverted and loud as you could get.

“Come
on and meet my new wife, Betty. So sorry that neither of my other sons could be
here tonight, but I’m sure you’ll get an opportunity to see them before you
head back to Billings.”

Brody
let Ted lead the way, somewhat relieved that neither Jackson nor Branndon Jr.
would be dining with them. Betty stood when she saw them approaching.

“Betty,
honey, this is Ted Williams. Ted, Betty.”

“Pleased
to meet you,” said Ted.

“Likewise.”

Brody
and Ted sat opposite the couple.

“This
is a nice place,” said Ted. “So warm and inviting with all the Christmas
lights.”

“Now,
order whatever your heart desires, because this meal is on me,” said Branndon
Sr.

“I
can recommend the planked salmon,” said Betty.

“Dad’s
an avid fisherman,” said Brody.

“Really.
We’ll have to head out next spring,” said Branndon.

“You
fly fish by any chance?” asked Ted.

“No,
but you can show me,” said Branndon. I’d be happy to. Betty, are you from this
area?” asked Ted.

“Grantsville
born and bred. My nephew’s the county sheriff.”

“She
was his campaign manager,” said Branndon. “Sort of how we met.”

“That’s
interesting,” said Ted.

“Do
you keep up on Montana politics?” asked Betty.

Ted
shook his head. “I follow the rule about not discussing religion, politics, or
sex.”

Brody
smiled. He couldn’t remember Ted ever getting into an argument about anything
that serious. Well, the worst he’d done was go sort out a neighbor whose son
had given Brody a black eye when the head cheerleader had taken a liking to him
and not the neighboring rancher’s son.

“And
you and Kathleen, how exactly did you meet?” asked Branndon.

“I
was a widower looking for a housekeeper and placed an ad in the general store
window. The first applicant was Kathleen, and I didn’t have to look for anyone
else.”

Ted
winked at him. Brody had heard this story from his mother.

“She
was such a great worker. I suppose I fell in love with her the first time I saw
her.”

“Yeah,
it was easy to do that,” said Branndon.

“I
was ten years her senior, and when I found out she was having a baby, well, it
was like fate had blessed me. You see, I’d had a bad case of mumps that had
left me sterile so my wife and I couldn’t have children. It was like I was getting
another chance to not only be a husband again but a father too.” Ted looked at
Brody. There were tears in his father’s eyes. Brody put his arm around him and
patted his shoulder.

“I’m
not a religious man by any means, but I’ve been praying every night that one of
you men could help out my boy here by being a donor,” said Ted.

Branndon
reached across the table and squeezed the back of Ted’s hand. “He’s my son too,
and I will do whatever needs to be done. He’s going to live to be an old man
and find himself a wife and have lots of babies that both of us will spoil
rotten.”

Ted
nodded. “Now that sounds like something I’d like to toast to,” he said, lifting
his glass of water.

****

Maddie
had thought it best that she let Brody and his dad dine alone with Branndon and
Betty. Brody had tried to talk her into going along, but they didn’t need an
outsider getting in the way of their getting-to-know-you phase. She’d missed
Brody but had taken the opportunity to head out and buy his Christmas gift—a
pay-as-you-use-it punch card to a local gym. She didn’t know if he worked out
or not, but she wanted it to be a positive sign that he’d be around to use it.

She
slipped it into the envelope and then placed the red bow on top. She now had
all her shopping done and had been for another Brazilian while she’d been at
the mall.

Maddie
was still dealing with the pain and stood in front of the mirror. Brody liked
the bare look and now so did she.
“Pretty
pussy lips,”
he’d told her.

They’d
only been apart for twelve hours but she missed him like crazy. She bit her
lip. How could someone fall for another man so quickly? But in all honesty, she
had. Brody Williams was the complete opposite of Mark. Maybe she and Brody were
meant to be together. A good thing coming out of what she’d considered the
worst thing that could happen to a bride.

Did
Brody feel the same way?
 
Starting a
relationship with someone was the last thing he probably was thinking about
right now. Maybe after he had his operation and was on the road to recovery he
might think about it.

Maddie
was just about to go to the kitchen and make herself some tea when her cell
phone rang. Brody had promised to give her a call today. He and Ted were going
to spend the day together. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was
Ted’s name and not Brody’s. Maybe Brody had borrowed his phone.

“Hi
Ted, you enjoying yourself in Riker’s Creek?”

“Maddie,
it’s Brody. We were having breakfast and he said he wasn’t feeling so good, and
the next thing I knew he’d collapsed.”

Maddie
sat down. “Is he okay?”

“His
kidney’s failing, and all the way in the ambulance he was asking that I get you
to come see him.”

Ted’s
voice broke up not from bad reception but because he was clearly crying.

“He
wants to say good-bye to you, Maddie.”

A
tear ran down Maddie’s cheek. Brody couldn’t die. She’d promised him a
Christmas miracle, and that’s what he was going to get.

“I’ll
be right there,” she said.

****

Brody’s
mind raced, and his body ached. He dreaded the dialysis, but right now that’s
all that would prolong his life.

He
looked around the room. Ted was sitting on the left and Branndon Sr. on the
right. Maddie, where was she? If he was dying, he’d make sure he hung on long
enough to see her face one more time, to feel her lips on his, and to say good-bye
and thank her for being such a good friend. Maybe there was an afterlife and they’d
see one another again. Now that would be his only chance of being with Maddie.

Yes,
he loved her. He knew how Ted had felt about his mother when he’d first seen
her on his ranch. Brody had fallen for Maddie the second he’d laid eyes upon
her at the bar that night. He’d fought it as much as he could, not because he
wasn’t the settling-down sort of guy, but he didn’t want to burden a woman with
having to deal with him and maybe his imminent death.

“Maddie,”
he said.

Ted
stood. “I phoned her, and she’s on her way.”

“You
love her, don’t you?” asked Branndon Sr.

Brody
nodded. He’d admitted it to himself so why not share the news with everyone.

“Thought
as much. She’s a beautiful girl who’s going to make a fine mother to our
grandbabies,” he said looking over at Ted.

Maddie
chose that moment to walk through the door. Her eyes were all red and puffy,
and it was clear to him that she’d been crying. She ran over to Brody.

“Why
don’t me and Branndon give you two some privacy,” said Ted, nodding to
Branndon.

Maddie
leaned over and kissed Brody’s hand.

“I
have something to tell you,” said Brody.

“Me
too,” said Maddie.

“You
go first.”

“No,
you do it.”

“How
about we do it at the same time because I think I know what it might be,” said
Brody.

“I’m
in love with you,” they both said word for word as if they’d rehearsed it for
years.

“Geez,
is this kismet or what?” asked Brody.

Maddie
was about to kiss him on the lips. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you because
I’m guessing breath isn’t that great.”

“I’d
like to take my chances,” said Maddie leaning over. She gave him a quick kiss
just as the door opened, and in walked the doctor along with Ted and Branndon.

Brody
didn’t like the look on anyone’s face.

Branndon
broke down first. “Brody, I’m so sorry, the tests say I wouldn’t be a good
match to donate my kidney to you.”

“No,
no, that’s wrong,” said Maddie. “Brody has to get a kidney. How about testing
me?”

“We
could do that, but Brody’s best hope is a family member. How about siblings,
Mr. Mckinney. Do you have other children?” asked the doctor.

“I
sure do, Jackson and Branndon Jr.”