Page 38 of Talon
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Aftereveryonehadeaten,but were still gathered around the table Madison leaned back and watched the way these people interacted with each other.The Robyn who had called in wasn’t there, and neither was one of the men she’d met the night before, Ghost.She assumed he was Robyn’s man, but she wasn’t going to ask, not in front of everyone.
She was amazed by the way they acted more like family than co-workers or even friends.The way they joked and laughed, even poked fun at each other, was more like siblings than she’d ever see in any kind of workplace.
Even Lurch got in on it, though he seemed to also be the one to draw the line as far as how far was far enough.That had been when the men sitting on the bench across the table from where she sat beside Talon had begun to smack their shoulders against each other, shoving and playing at the table.Lurch had scowled and told them to knock it off before they spilled the food.And he’d only had to say it once.
After the food was gone, and in Madison’s opinion it had disappeared faster than she’d thought possible, they sat there a moment, seemingly waiting for something.
“What’s your plan for today, ladies?”Lurch asked, glancing around the table, his eyes resting on each of the women for a few seconds then moving on to the next one.
“I’m working today,” Heather put in.She glanced up at the clock hanging over the door to the pantry, It wasn’t in a place she’d normally look, so Madison had missed it until someone had looked at it.“I’ll need to leave in about an hour.”
Lurch nodded but didn’t say anything.
“I’m planning on working on my mural today.”Bonnie said.“I was telling Madison about it yesterday.We thought it would be nice if she could come check it out.”
Madison shook her head, trying to discourage her new friend from saying anything.
Lurch nodded at her but then his gaze swung to Madison.Madison’s stomach dipped, not sure she wanted the big boss’s attention on her.
“Do you not want to go?”Lurch asked.
“No, sir.That’s not it.”Madison fell back into the habit her father had taught her about calling people sir or ma’am.
“First.Don’t call me sir.I work for a living.Second, if you want to go, then what’s the problem?”
She shrugged.“I didn’t want to ask for more.You have all been great to me, but I know I’ve taken Talon from his job and several of you,” she glanced at the men aro und the table, “have taken the time to research Billy too.I don’t want to be more of a burden.”
“Wait.Burden?”Lurch scowled.
Madison’s stomach dipped again.She didn’t want him mad at her, he had the power to tell her she had to leave, and she was just starting to get to know some of the women here.She didn’t know what to say, so she stayed silent, her gaze on her hands.
“Tell me more about why you think you’ve been a burden to us?Or is it just Talon?Has someone said something to you or is it something you determined on your own?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but froze as his words processed.
“No one has said anything.And Talon doesn’t make me feel like I’m imposing.But my dad taught me to always carry my weight and to rely on no one but myself.”She took a deep breath and forced herself to look up and meet his gaze.“I’m sorry if I’ve offended you in some way.That wasn’t my intention and I’m grateful for everything you all have done for me.”Madison fought the urge to shift in her seat as she was acutely aware that the two of them were the center of attention for everyone in the room.Which meant nearly everyone on the ranch.“And I don’t just mean Talon coming to make sure I was okay but everyone.I know you’ve had men doing research and that everyone has had to do more to cover what is normally Talon’s share of the chores.I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
Lurch didn’t say anything for several seconds, just stared back at her with one brow lifted.Without saying anything to her, he turned and addressed the rest of the table.
“Do any of you feel burdened by helping find out what’s going on with Madison or covering Talon’s chores while he makes sure she’s covered?”
She didn’t want to look but knew she had to.Her gaze flicked from one face to another.She saw surprise, confusion, and a bit of anger or maybe it was just too early, and they were a bit churlish.What she didn’t see was anyone who appeared as if they felt she was right.There was no resentment in anyone’s eyes.
After a moment, one man cleared his throat.She recognized him from the night before but couldn’t remember his name.
“What Jake?”Lurch said.
Jake.That was right.He was the only one, other than Talon, who had a normal name.Though Talon had told her it wasn’t his real name.She wanted to ask what his real name was and why he didn’t use it but now wasn’t the time.Maybe she would ask Heather later.
“As the one who’s got the most time invested, aside from Talon that is, I think it would be a mistake for Madison to go back to Newcastle alone.”He took a deep breath, glanced at her then turned his attention back to Lurch.“I’m probably being a little paranoid here, but I don’t think she should leave the ranch alone.”
Madison couldn’t help the way her gaze went to Bonnie, then Heather, as if she were silently telling them ‘See, I was right.They don’t want me leaving alone.’Neither responded in any way.
“But, that said.I don’t see why one of us can’t take her into town.If she’s going to see Bonnie’s work, I would suggest it either be Talon or Malice, but it could be any of us, depending on who is free when she’s ready to go.”
Lurch scanned the table.“Anyone else want to say anything?”
