Page 14 of Every Single Wildflower
“We’ll get through this,” she whispers.
“I know.”
She releases me and continues. “The fire chief will be doing inspections, and we should know more soon.”
She takes a seat in the chair I had just vacated, and after a few seconds, I give one last look at my father before I leave the room.
I stand in what used to be the living room. The room that held the majority of my childhood memories. The days when we laughed. Watched movies. Made bets for who would win the round at the NFR that night. Now all that remains are ashes. I step across a broken beam, and tiptoe along the disintegrated original hardwood floors. So far, I’ve seen nothing salvageable.Nothing that could be returned to it's original state or even be remotely recognizable.
“Anything?” Cooper calls from across the rubble.
“No.” I kick at a half burnt dining chair and brace my hands on my hips. “It’s all ruined.”
“Great," he mutters. “I can’t believe this actually happened.”
The only thing still standing is the brick fireplace in the middle of the house. The red bricks are coated in a thick black layer, most of them still securely in place. But what’s a fireplace without a house to warm?
“They have insurance, right?” I ask, my mind going to the business side of this tragedy.
I majored in it. Might as well put that degree to good use.
“Yeah. We have farm insurance. I’m not sure the coverage. Dad has had it for years. He’s the only one who knows all the details.”
I nod, my mind already trying to articulate expenses and payouts. Without it, the ranch would practically be finished. Especially with the pastures that burned. The hay was wiped out. A big part of our income from what I remember, and it ignites a slew of financial questions in the back of my mind.
Maneuvering around the fireplace, I ease forward, skirting around more scattered pieces of charred wood. I dread telling my mom that we couldn’t find anything. She’s already suffered enough.
I’m two steps down the partially standing stairs of the front porch, when I hear the slam of a car door. My eyes glance up and my heart slams to a screeching halt when a smile stretches across Brady Sheppard’s face.
My feet falter, my brows furrowing as he takes three strides to me.
“I heard my girl was back in town.”
Before I can throw my arms out to stop him, he sweeps me up in a tight hug, spinning a full circle before planting me back on the dirt. On instinct, my arms reach up to steady myself around his shoulders. He doesn’t let go immediately, and just as I’m about to untangle from the unwanted affection, my eyes lock on the man over his shoulder. Maddox meets my eyes before he pauses, then he turns, and gives me his back as he heads to the running ATV.
Seems like that’s the only view he’s ever going to give me. His back while he walks away.
Chapter ten
Maddox
I climb in the ATV.
“Shep,” Cooper hollers.
“Be back,” I call out before I’m spinning out, heading to my cabin that’s just beyond the breeding barns.
I already need a beer, and seeing Ivy in my brother’s arms just about sent me over the edge.
Parking up next to the porch, I step off and march inside, almost ripping the fridge door off the hinges as I grip a longneck in my hand.
I twist the top, letting the cold liquid cool the fire in my veins. The fire that burns when I think of her. When I think of howmy feelings could hurt my brother. When I think of the accident. My eyes close as I bring the bottle up again. I just need to get through the next few days. I know Ivy still has a life in Georgia. Hell, for all I know she has someone waiting for her. A man who that can love her with everything he has. A man that doesn’t have to put her second.
Another pull from my cold beer, then my phone is ringing. Fishing it from my pocket, I glance at the screen and swipe.
“Uncle Mads!”
My nephew’s face fills the screen. “Nan said there was a big fire.”
