Page 45 of Rain or Shine
"Doesn’t matter, Dash, you tell someone," Tyler informs. “You don’t go anywhere a grown-up can’t see you. It's still hot out and snakes are out. Not to mention all the other sorts of danger you could find yourself in."
Watching the two of them together, the way Tyler handles Dash with ease, explaining everything to him without being too hard on him, causes a fist to squeeze at my heart.
Tyler sets Dash on his feet and motions for him to head toward the front of the house. "I want you to go inside and get ready for your bath. I'll be just a moment to get the water going."
"Okay." Dash pouts, but does as he's told.
When he's out of hearing range, I step closer to Tyler, only for him to put a hand up, stopping me. "Don't get too close to that thing. You're pregnant, and I'm not taking chances."
"I wasn't going to touch it," I inform him briskly. "I just wanted to see how it died."
"It looks like it was killed by an animal," he grumbles, shakes his head, and sighs. "I'm gonna check the cameras in hopes of seeing what did this. Once I do that, I'll get rid of it. I don't want you anywhere near it."
"Okay." I nod, drawing my bottom lip between my teeth.
"What is it?" he asks, curling a hand around my neck, the other going to my chin to tip my head back.
"I . . . I . . ." I shake my head. "It's nothing."
"It's not nothing, sweetheart. You've got something on your mind, what is it?" he pushes, eyes laser-focused.
I swallow and finish what I started to tell him about everything. "I just didn’t finish telling you everything.” I take a deep breath and give him the rest about how Philip had texted me. I don’t want to hide anything from him. He deserves to know it all. Just as he gifted me by telling me about Megan the other day.
If what we’re starting is going to work, I don’t want to keep my fears at bay. I know being on the ranch with him, Philip can’t get to me. I’m safe here. Tyler told me all about the cameras they’ve got set up.
“Sweetheart, Philip is nothing more than an asswipe that needs his ass handed to him. If he tries to contact you again, tell me. I’ll track him down and deliver that kicking personally.”
I draw my lip in once again and nod. I don’t want him to get into trouble.
“And since you’re suspended for the time being, instead of you sticking around bored out of your mind here at the house,why don’t you come to work with me?” I know it’s not ideal, but I want her with me.
“I don’t know anything about working on a ranch,” I blurt, staring up at him wide-eyed. “Besides, you don’t need me hanging around you all day while you’re working.”
A grin slides into place, and he dips his head to rest his forehead against mine. "We'll figure it out, Delaney. I promise you won't be bored. You’ll hang out with me and around the ranch until we get everything sorted out."
"Okay," I whisper, trusting him in a way I've not trusted anyone else except my brother. Though I’m not sure about working on the ranch. But for now, I suppose it's better than just sitting around the house. I don’t like twiddling my thumbs.
Chapter Eighteen
Delaney
“Maddox, you got a minute?” I call out as soon as I get out of my truck. I still need to go back to the house and get Delaney when she’s ready. Morning sickness is still getting to her. I started to stay and help her only for her to kick me out of the bathroom.
So, I left some ginger tea out for her on the kitchen counter. I figured once her stomach settles, I’ll go back and get her.
But I want to talk to Maddox first. Explain what’s going on.
“What’s up?” he asks, stopping just outside the barn.
I jog the distance between us. “Need to talk about a few things.”
Maddox cocks a brow and nods. “Alright, so talk.”
“I just wanted to give you a heads up that Delaney is going to be coming to work with me for now.”
Maddox straightens to his full height, hooking his thumbs around the belt loops of his Wranglers, as his eyes narrow beneath the brim of his Stetson.
When he doesn’t say anything, I add, “She was suspended from school, and I want eyes on her as much as possible.” We didn’t exactly talked about it, but I told him about the fire, and it’s not like he didn’t already know about her Philip attacking her.
