A Time to Protect (4 page)

And Madison was on the ground. Unmoving.

Brendan raced out to the tiny form, his heart beating so fast he could hardly breathe. He squatted beside her, calling her name.

“Madison? Madison, are you all right?”

“Let me see.” Someone pushed against him, forcing him to move. Chloe Tanner knelt at her daughter’s side, felt her pulse then checked under her eyelids, that gorgeous sprawl of auburn hair cascading over one shoulder and onto the young girl. Able hands slipped over the small bones, checking for injuries. “Come on, baby. It’s Mom. You can’t lie here if you want to win the game, you know.” Not a tremor belied that steady, compelling voice.

“Is she—” Just in time Brendan caught the shake of Chloe’s head and cut off his words. The team had gathered around and were staring down at the white-faced girl who still hadn’t moved.

“Come on, honey. If you’re going to win, we have to finish the game.”

Madison’s eyes fluttered open. She blinked several times before a funny smile flickered across her lips. “Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, yourself. Are you all right? Any dizziness?”

“No. I’m okay. It hurts a little. Here.” She pointed to her shoulder.

“It should hurt.” Emily pointed at the offender from the opposite team. “She jabbed her with an elbow. Deliberately. I saw it. Then she laughed when Madison fell down.”

Brendan glanced up at the referee, raised one eyebrow.

“I didn’t see it. Can’t call what I didn’t see.”

“Come on, sweetie. Sit up and take deep breaths. You’re okay. You just got the wind knocked out of you.” After a moment Chloe gently eased her daughter to her feet, eyes alert for any sign of difficulty. “Is that better?”

“Yes.” Madison was standing now. “Is the game over?”

“Five seconds left,” Buddy told them.

“Then let’s finish it,” Madison said to the other players. She turned to take her place on the field but Brendan laid a hand on her arm to stop her.

“The others can finish wiping them up, Madison. You’ve done your part. You sit down and rest.”

“Yes, sir.” She high-fived the rest of the group then moved to the sidelines. Chloe turned toward the bleachers.

“Aren’t you going to stay with her?” Brendan asked.

She gave him a look that would have curdled milk.

“Have her mother sit beside her, in front of everyone, embarrassing her? Are you kidding, Mr. Montgomery?” And with a toss of that lustrous hair she was gone, jogging across the field, her trim figure perfectly displayed in shabby blue jeans and a pale blue boiled wool jacket.

“You sick, Bren?” Buddy nudged him with his elbow.

“No. Why?”

“You sure got a funny look on your face.”

Brendan returned to his place on the sidelines, sent out another player and waited for the whistle to blow. They’d won the game. He couldn’t suppress a grin as his team cheered and congratulated each other, then lined up to shake hands with the opposing team. But he kept his eye on Madison, especially when her attacker came toward her.

He needn’t have worried. Madison thrust out her hand as she looked the other girl straight in the eye. “I forgive you,” she said clearly.

Brendan could have cheered. Of all the lessons he’d hoped to impart to this team, this was by far the most important. Last in line, the coach of the opposing team grabbed his hand and congratulated him.

“Just want you to know that I’ll be doing some discipline,” he told them. “We play hard but we don’t play dirty.”

“Thanks.” Brendan watched them leave, saw his own team laughing and giggling as they and Buddy gathered up their equipment. Across the field Chloe waited beside a tall, lanky boy who stood about an inch taller than her.

“Come on, Madison, let’s go see your mom. I’ll bet you’re beginning to feel a little sore, aren’t you?”

“A little,” she admitted, wincing as she moved one shoulder, her blond ponytail slapping against her cheek as she wiggled into her jacket.

“You were a good sport in your behavior toward them. That took a lot of courage.”

“Thanks.” She grinned at him then hugged her mother. “We won!”

“You sure did, honey. Congratulations.” Chloe glanced up at Brendan, her face giving nothing away. “You’re a good coach.”

“You have a daughter who excels at soccer. Besides, I came into this late. Coach Jeffers is the one who deserves the credit.” He glanced at the lean boy who hadn’t yet offered his congratulations. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Brendan Montgomery.” He thrust out a hand.

“Kyle Tanner.”

“Ah, Madison’s brother, I presume.” He squinted. “Not a soccer fan?”

“I don’t mind watching Madison, but it’s not my game.” Kyle looked him up and down. “I suppose you were a jock when you were in school?”

Brendan caught the look of irritation that fluttered across Chloe’s face but he simply laughed at the boy’s sour comment.

“Hardly a jock. But I played soccer a lot. It kept me off the baseball and football teams.”

“You didn’t like those sports?” Kyle seemed puzzled.

“I didn’t like having to live up to my big brother’s image.” Brendan made a face as he ticked the praises off on one hand. “Best quarterback, best pitcher, best hockey forward, best everything.”

“You won a soccer trophy, though,” Madison put in, grinning at him. “Coach Jeffers told us about it.”

“Yeah, my one claim to fame.” Brendan glanced at the backpack Kyle carried. “What are your preferences?”

“I like reading and I have a pet snake named Ziggy.”

Snake? “Oh.” Brendan looked at the ground hoping the kid couldn’t see his shudder of revulsion.

“Sometimes he writes poems,” Madison blurted out. “They’re way cool.”

“I bet they are. I have a favorite book of poems at home that my dad gave me last Christmas. They say things better than I can.” Brendan found Chloe eyeing him with a stern glare, as if she thought he was lying. “Well, I guess I’d better get going. And you get a shower, young lady. A hot one. Might help ease the pain.” He watched as Kyle, looking bored, wandered ahead.

“Yeah. Hot sounds good.” Madison moved her shoulder and winced. Suddenly her face brightened. “Hey, Mom, can Coach Montgomery have dinner with us tonight?”

“I have to work tonight, Maddy. Anyway, it’s just a casserole. I’m sure Mr. Montgomery isn’t all that fond of turkey noodle melt.”

“Are you kidding? I love turkey any way I can get it.” Brendan licked his lips. “I’m not very good at cooking turkey though my mother tried her best to teach me the basics.”

“Oh.” Chloe blinked. “Okay. Well, we’d better get going before it burns.”

The beautiful Mrs. Tanner was an expert at hiding her emotions, which made Brendan wonder about Mr. Tanner. At the moment her face was impassive, which made him question whether Chloe was mad he’d invited himself, or resigned to hosting Madison’s last-minute guests. One thing she wasn’t was overly thrilled. Well, why would she be?

“I’ll follow you there, shall I? Hey, Kyle!” He waited until the boy meandered back. “Want to ride with me?”

“Sure. Whatever.” Kyle shrugged.

Arrangements made, Brendan walked back across the field with the quiet young man at his side trying to think of something to say. Usually he was good with kids, but there was something angry hiding just under the surface with this one and he didn’t want to set him off, even though he wanted to help him.

“This is yours?” Kyle gaped as he took in the black SUV.
“I’ve never ridden in one like it before.” He began listing the vehicle specs. “It must handle pretty well. What made you choose it?”

“My mom.” Brendan chuckled at the kid’s open-mouthed stare. “She knows everything there is to know about automobiles. I just took her advice.”

“She must give better advice than mine, then,” Kyle muttered as he climbed inside and fastened his seat belt. “All she ever says is ‘someday’.”

“I’m sure your mother does the very best she can for you, Kyle. I don’t imagine it’s easy for her to do her job, take care of you and fit all the other things she has to into her life. Sometimes we forget that moms are people, too.” He didn’t want to alienate the kid, but he wasn’t going to sit there and let him disrespect his beautiful mother.

“My mother doesn’t understand.” The words brimmed with pain.

“Did you talk to her about what you’re feeling?” Brendan glanced sideways, saw the reddish-brown head shake. “Well then, how could she possibly understand what’s going on inside your head?”

“She’s the one who left.”

Left what, or was it who—her husband? Brendan chewed on his thoughts before offering a comment. “Maybe she didn’t have any other choice.” He pulled up alongside a large contemporary colonial.

Chloe’s minivan in the driveway completed the mental picture he’d drawn whenever he’d thought of her. Nice neighborhood, nice house—definitely not new, but something about this home screamed comfortable. Maybe it was the handmade willow chairs on the front porch.

“Aren’t you coming in?” Kyle shoved his door open, frown in place.

“I’m coming. I hope having me here doesn’t make your mom late for work.” Maybe he should have refused the invitation?

“It won’t.” Kyle was through the front door in a flash, backpack thudding into a closet. “She’s always got everything organized.”

Organized wasn’t exactly how Brendan would have described the interior of the Tanner home, though it wasn’t a mess. More like a jumble of life. He stared at the huge treadmill that occupied a large section of the living room and wondered if that was the secret behind Nurse Tanner’s long legs.

“Come on in,” Chloe called from somewhere to his left.

Brendan followed Kyle, his nose twitching at the mingled aromas of turkey, apples and cinnamon.

Madison was setting the kitchen table. Kyle had the fridge door open in a quest for juice. Chloe, cheeks pink, hair seized in a scarf and tumbling down her back, was placing a salad on the table.

“Have a seat,” she offered. “I’ll get the casserole in a minute.”

“Thanks.” He glanced out the patio door and noticed a cleared area bounded by boards. “Are you building something?”

“Mom, build something? Are you kidding? She’s allergic to hammers.” Madison giggled. “Kyle built that. It’s for my hockey rink. If it ever gets cold enough, that is.” She took pity on Brendan’s confusion and explained. “We flood that section between the boards so we can play hockey. If it’s too warm for ice, we play on the ground. The boards are the edge of the rink.”

“You may have guessed that Madison loves sports.” Chloe sat down, heaved a sigh and smiled. “Now, let’s say grace.”

The children bowed their heads and she said something about being blessed. Then the food was passed around. Silence reigned momentarily as everyone enjoyed the tasty meal. Brendan savored each mouthful. A gorgeous woman who could cook like this while holding down a full-time job and managing two kids—no wonder she was organized.

“Mrs. Mills will be here as soon as we’re finished. Kyle, it’s your turn to scrape the dishes and load the dishwasher. Mrs. Mills shouldn’t have to do it. Then you can do your homework. You, too, Maddy. No television tonight.”

Their mingled moans were ignored.

“This casserole is delicious.” Brendan savored the last of the rich flavors on his tongue and smiled at Chloe. “You should sell the recipe.”

“I’m not sure anyone would pay, but thank you. Would you like some more or would you rather have apple brown Betty for dessert?”

“Dessert wins every time.” He accepted the huge portion she offered, listening as Madison told him all about her cat named Oz and two guinea pigs.

“Don’t forget to feed them tonight. Kanga and Roo were out of water this morning.” Chloe poured them two cups of coffee and passed one to Brendan with the cream. “Your job must be very demanding, Mr. Montgomery. What do you do in your spare time?”

“Mr. Montgomery is my dad. My name is Brendan. I’m starting a model club at the church,” he told her. “I was just wondering if Kyle would like to come. We can always use one more.”

“Models?” Kyle frowned. “What kind of models?”

“Well, the idea is to practice on smaller stuff. Cars, boats, that kind of thing. Eventually I’d like to put together a remote control kit for an airplane.”

“Cool.” Kyle jumped up, dumped his plate on the counter. He started to leave the room, but paused when his mother cleared her throat. “Course, I probably won’t be able to go because I’ll be doing women’s work,” he snapped sourly, his voice brimming with hostility.

“Kyle.” Chloe’s low voice warned him. “You live here, you eat here, you help with the dishes.”

“Nag, nag, nag.” He slammed a dish on the counter, tossing her an angry look. “That’s probably why Dad had to get away from you.”

The clank of the dishes was the only sound in the room. Brendan didn’t dare look up from his coffee cup. He didn’t want to see the hurt chagrin on Chloe’s face, nor did he want her to
have to reprimand the boy in front of him which was probably why she was hesitating.

“That was a wonderful meal,” he said, changing the subject. “I’d really like to have the recipe for that casserole sometime.”

“Recipe? You cook?” Kyle’s shock was almost comical.

“If I didn’t cook, I wouldn’t eat. Besides, my mother raised us with the belief that men should be able to look after themselves or they’re still boys.” Brendan rose, carried his own plate to the sink then faced Chloe. “You need to get ready for work, don’t you?”

She nodded, eyes wide, tinges of pink embarrassment still clinging to her cheeks. “Yes, I do.”

“Why don’t you go and change while we clean up?” he said quietly. “It won’t take us long. You’re not nearly as messy as me. I generally use every article in the kitchen when I cook.”

“But…thank you.” She stared at Kyle for several moments then turned to leave the room.

Brendan said nothing, simply continued to carry the dishes to the sink where Kyle began scraping them. Madison remained at the table but didn’t seem inclined to talk. Brendan was on the point of saying something when Kyle finally set down his spatula.

“Excuse me, Mr. Montgomery. I need to talk to my mom.”

“You go ahead, Kyle. I’ll get Madison to help me if I need it.”