Brody (9 page)

When
the service broke up, Sam led Kaitlyn away, and Madilyn moved toward Brody. He
stood in one spot waiting for her. She stopped in front of him and gazed up at
him.

“Is Katie
all right?” Brody asked.

“Yes. I
stayed with her the past few nights. I think she’s glad it’s over.”

Brody
nodded, and glanced away from her then back. “He was an ass.”

“Everyone
thought the same thing. Katie just didn’t want to see it.” Madilyn shook her
head. “I don’t know what she’s going to do now though. She’s pregnant.”

Brody’s
eyebrows rose. “She was still sleeping with him?
Even though
he was screwing around?”

Madilyn
chewed on her bottom lip and shook her head. “He raped her last month. She told
me the other night when I was staying with her.”

“Son of a bitch!
”
Brody roared. Several people
turned to glare at him but he didn’t care. “Does Sam know?” he whispered.

“Not
yet. Katie hasn’t told him she’s pregnant yet.”

“All I
can say is it’s a damn good thing the bastard’s dead or Sam would kill him.”

“I
know. She said she’d tell him tonight. She’s staying at the ranch with him for
a while.”

“Is she
telling him about the pregnancy or rape?”

“Both.”
Madilyn reached for his hand. “I’m sorry about what I said, Brody. I know you
were telling the truth about the married woman.”

He
nodded. “I was hoping you’d eventually realize it.”

“I’m
sorry—”

“It’s
all right. I’m sure it was hard to believe but it was the truth. I’ve never
lied to you before, I won’t start now.” Brody interrupted her.

“I
know. I guess jealousy reared its ugly head.”

Brody
snorted. “Tell me about it.”

They
started walking across the cemetery together when Brody halted and quickly
glanced around. Shaking his head, he took her elbow and continued.

“What
was that for?” Madilyn whispered, as they got closer to other people.

“Nothing.
Just a
feeling.”

Madilyn
glanced at him. “What kind of feeling?”

“Never
mind.”
Brody
shook his head.

“All
right.”

They
got into their separate cars and drove to Sam’s ranch where everyone was
meeting after the funeral. When they entered the back door, Kaitlyn came toward
them, and took Madilyn’s hand.

“Can I
talk to you?”

Madilyn
glanced at Brody. “Of course you can, Katie.”

Kaitlyn
nodded and led her through the house to a back bedroom. Once inside, they sat
together on the bed. She took a deep breath and looked at Madilyn.

“I want
you to be with me when I tell my parents and Sam about my pregnancy. I can’t do
it alone.”

Madilyn
stared at her in shock but Kaitlyn was her friend.
“All
right.
Is that all you’re going to tell them?”

Kaitlyn
smiled sadly. “They’ll want to know why I slept with Kevin when he was screwing
around on me. Sam’s never understood how or why I stayed with Kevin. He was
always telling me to leave him. I told him I believed in my vows but mostly it
was because I had nowhere to go and I couldn’t support myself. You and I both
know the shop doesn’t pay much. Knowing Sam, he would have made me live here
with him, and there was no way I’d do it. Sam needs his privacy.”

“I
know, Katie. I’m here for you. When do you want to do this?”

“Once
everyone leaves.
I’m still staying here. I can’t be alone in the house right now.”

Madilyn
wrapped her arms around her. She hadn’t seen Kaitlyn shed one tear for Kevin.
Of course, Madilyn wouldn’t either if a man treated her in such a way. No one
cried for Kevin. Everyone in town felt nothing but disdain for the man. He
blatantly belittled his wife by his behavior. Both women jerked when the door
opened, and Sam poked his head in.

“Is
everything all right?”

Madilyn
smiled. “Yes.
Just a little alone time.”

“All
right.
Take
your time.” He closed the door.

“I’m so
scared to tell him. Knowing Sam, he’ll dig Kevin up just to kick the shit out
of him.” Kaitlyn snorted then started to giggle.

Madilyn
couldn’t stop the laugh from erupting.
“Oh, God.
He so
would.” They laughed until tears rolled down their cheeks.

* * *
*

Brody
stood in the living room sipping on iced tea. He hated these things. Who
didn’t? He never knew what to do or say so he always stayed back from the other
people. He saw Jake Stone moving toward him.

“Brody,
it’s been a while. Too bad we had to meet up again for a funeral.” Jake stuck
his hand out.

Brody
grinned and shook his hand. “How are you, Jake? I couldn’t believe it when Sam
told me you and Gabe
are
both married now.”

Jake
chuckled. “A redhead stole my heart. What can I say?” He glanced over to his
wife, and smiled.

 
“She’s a beauty, that’s for sure.” Brody
teased.

Jake
laughed. “I know, and you teasing me
doesn’t
bother me
in the least. I know she loves me.”

Gabe
Stone joined them, and stuck his hand out to Brody. “How the hell are you,
Morgan?”

“I’m
good, Gabe. What about you? I can’t believe you married Emma Conner.”

“Have
you seen Emma?” Gabe joked. “Our daughter is the image of her momma.”

 
Brody shook his head. “I haven’t seen
Emma in five years.” He gazed around the room. “That is not Emma Conner.”

Gabe
looked over his shoulder, and smiled.
“Yep.
That’s my
wife.”

“Damn,
you two are lucky men. Is Wyatt married too?”

Jake
snorted. “No. He came damned close but Stephanie Taylor broke his heart three
years ago. He’s sworn off marriage now.”

Brody
chuckled. “I’m sure that makes a lot of women happy.”

The men
laughed until
Becca
narrowed her eyes at them. Jake
cleared his throat, and Gabe glanced away. Brody chuckled.

“I see
who the boss is,” Brody teased.

Jake
grinned. “I don’t deny it.”

Gabe
chuckled. “I don’t either. All Emma has to do is give me that look all women
know, and I know I’d better straighten up.”

“Who’s
the beauty talking with Ryder?”

“
Becca’s
best friend, Olivia Roberts.
She could make a sailor blush,
but we all love her,” Jake said.

“Except
for Wyatt.
He steers clear of her,” Gabe added.

“Wyatt
steers clear of a beautiful woman?” Brody was shocked.

“He’s
skittish. Liv wants him, and doesn’t care if he knows it or not. She’s made her
intentions clear.” Jake shook his head. “She’ll get him too. Of that I have no
doubt.”

Brody
grinned.
“Might be fun to watch.”

The men
laughed again until
Becca
headed toward them. She
glared up at Jake. “In case you all haven’t noticed, we’re here for Katie. She
just buried her husband. This isn’t a party.” She bit her lip.
“Although it should be.”

Brody
burst out laughing and looked at Jake. “I like her.”

Jake
pulled
Becca
toward him. “Yeah, I kind of like her
too. Red, this is Brody Morgan.
Brody, my wife,
Becca
.”

Brody
shook her hand and grinned at her.
“Nice to meet you,
Becca
.”

“I’ve
heard all about you, Brody Morgan. You hurt Madilyn again, and you’re dead
meat.”

Brody
raised his eyebrows and glanced at Jake and Gabe, who were both trying not to
laugh. “I won’t hurt her again,
Becca
.”

Becca
nodded. Olivia and Emma stepped
up beside her. Olivia looked him up and down and it took every ounce of his
willpower not to squirm.

“So.
You’re Brody, huh? I’m Olivia
Roberts.
Liv to my friends.
I’m really someone you
don’t want to piss off, so be good to Madilyn.” She grinned at him.

Brody
ran his hand over his mouth.
“Holy shit.”
He looked at
Jake. “She’s serious.”

“Liv
tells it like it is. I’d tread lightly if I were you.” Jake grinned.

Ryder
Wolfe laughed. “It’s good to see you again, Brody. It’s been awhile.”

“You
too, Ryder.”
Brody smiled at another of his old friends. Ryder Wolfe owned a lucrative
American Paint horse ranch. He’d been one of Brody’s childhood friends, along
with the Stone brothers, Riley Madison, Trick Dillon, and of course, Sam.

“Brody?
It’s good to see you again.”
Wyatt Stone stuck his hand out as he elbowed Ryder out of the way and shook
Brody’s hand.

“Damn,
Wyatt, you’re still as ugly as ever.”

Wyatt
grinned. “Jealous?”

“Hell
yes. Between you, Sam, and Trick, the rest of us were rebounds.”

Olivia
snickered. Brody watched as Wyatt narrowed his eyes at her. “Did you say
something?”

Brody
watched as she fluttered her eyelashes at him. Wyatt’s jaw clenched and he gave
Brody a nod and stalked away. Brody glanced at Jake and Gabe. They were both
grinning. He shook his head. “He doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell.” He
turned to Ryder. “Do you and Wyatt have a problem with each other?”

Ryder
chuckled. “Only that he thinks Olivia and I are an item.” Ryder shook his head.
“We’re just friends. Hell, if Wyatt wants her, I’m not standing in the way. I
just don’t know what his problem with her is.”

Brody
smiled at Ryder and then Olivia. “Like I
said,
snowball’s chance in hell.”

Olivia
grinned at him. “Okay, now you can call me Liv.” Then she,
Becca
,
and Emma moved back toward the table to help serve the people eating.

Trick
Dillon strode toward him and stuck out a hand. “Brody, it’s been way too long.”

Brody
smiled at him. “I see you haven’t aged well at all, Dillon.” He laughed since
it was far from the truth. Trick Dillon was as tall as he was, with black hair
and black eyes. He demanded attention anywhere he went. Women loved him but his
heart belonged to his wife, Kaylee.

Trick
grinned at him. “I feel like I haven’t some days,
that’s
for sure.”

“Where’s
Kaylee?” Brody glanced around.

Trick
peered over his shoulder. “In the kitchen, I think. You know how she is. She’d
do all the cleaning up if we’d let her.”

As they
talked, a beautiful woman with blonde hair and dark green eyes strolled up to
them and slipped her arm through Trick’s arm. She smiled at both men.

“It’s
good to see you, Brody,” Kaylee Dillon said.

“You
still look amazing, Kaylee.” Brody chuckled when she blushed. “I still don’t
understand why you’re with this ugly guy.” He jerked his head toward Trick.

“I felt
sorry for him. No one else wanted him.” Kaylee laughed softly when Trick
growled at her.

“I’m
glad no one else wanted me.” Trick chuckled.

“We
need to get going. You have a client coming later this afternoon, Patrick.”

“I
know. Let’s go say our goodbyes.” He stuck his hand out to Brody again. “Don’t
be a stranger. Come out to the ranch sometime. We’ll all go for a ride.”

“Sounds
good.”
Brody
shook Trick’s hand and kissed Kaylee on her cheek. He watched them walk away
together and leave.

Brody
smiled when he saw Madilyn and Kaitlyn enter the room. Kaitlyn stood by Sam and
their parents. Madilyn headed toward Brody.

“Hi,
Jake, Gabe.”
She smiled.

“Madilyn.
How’s Katie?” Gabe asked.

Madilyn
shrugged. “She’s fine. I don’t think she loved him anymore anyway.”

“Who
could love that prick?” Gabe muttered. “He treated Katie like dirt and she’s
the sweetest woman around.”

Brody
agreed. Since he’d been friends with Sam growing up, he knew Katie very well.
“I remember Sam telling me about her getting married. I was invited to the
wedding but I was on assignment and couldn’t make it. Sam didn’t want her to
marry him, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. I don’t even think
their parents approved of Parker. But Katie was in love.”