Like Lightning (15 page)

Trey couldn't get over Storm's transformation. Sure, he'd still have his moods—a stallion couldn't change that much—but he had changed enough to make him a true part of 2 Hope. Storm belonged here. He belonged to Trey. In a sense they belonged to each other.

“Then maybe you'd let nature take its course in another way,” Kit said.

Curious, Trey asked, “In what other way?”

Kit tipped his hat and smiled. “I was thinking that the right woman could settle the right man. They'd be like soul mates. Sorta like what happened with Storm and Julip. It just takes some smarts to figure it all out, boss.” With that, Kit spurred Julip into a trot and they headed out.

Trey stared at them as they rode off, his head still reeling. He walked over to the front steps and set himself down. Stretching out his legs, he thought about Storm, his feisty stallion, and realized how wrong he'd been.

Maddie had been right. And he'd been wrong.

Trey wondered what else he'd been wrong about lately, but he couldn't finish the thought because Jack pulled up to the house in his patrol car. He exited the car wearing a tight expression.

“Damn,” he muttered. Jack was the last person he wanted to see today. “Nobody's home,” Trey remarked, only halfway joking.

But Jack was never one to take a hint. He sat right down beside him and stared into his eyes. “You got that
right.” He pointed to Trey's head. “Nobody's home in there. Where's your head, Trey?”

“I'm not in the mood, Jack. Say what you came to say, or better yet, just leave.”

“You're going to thank me one day for this,” Jack said, all sarcasm gone. “Just keep it buttoned. I'm going to do some talking, and you're going to do some listening.”

Trey humored him. “Okay, shoot.”

“Just a sec.” Jack walked into the house and came back holding two beers. He set both down between them.

“It's nine o'clock in the morning.”

Jack took his seat on the steps again. “You're gonna need it.”

“I thought you were on duty.”

Jack smiled. “They're both for you.”

Trey grimaced and twisted the cap. “Okay, what?” Then he took a swig. Seemed a cold brew couldn't hurt. He already felt as though he'd been in a train wreck.

“I passed Maddie in town. Her truck was loaded up. She left the ranch, didn't she?”

Trey nodded, like he needed reminding.

“And you just let her go?”

He nodded again and stared at Jack defying him to make a snide comment.

Jack put up both hands in surrender. “I didn't come here to condemn you. I came here to reason with you.”

Trey finished the first beer in two gulps then turned to his cousin. “Why?”

“Because any fool can see you're head over heels in love with her, that's why. And Lord only knows why, but Maddie feels the same way. I can't stand by and see you make that kind of mistake. You see, you've been holding onto this lame idea that you are like your father. But,
Trey, let me clue you in, you're not the heartbreaker your daddy was. You haven't got a selfish bone in your body. And I know you're stuck on his last dying words to you. But did you ever stop to think he didn't mean it that way?”

“
Don't make the same mistakes I made, son.
It's hard to misinterpret that,” Trey said.

“Right, that's what he said. But maybe he meant that he wanted better for you. He didn't want you to be miserable and lonely without love in your life. It's possible that he knew you were capable of loving one woman and devoting your life to her. He knew he couldn't do that, but maybe he wanted to impress upon you that you could.

“Sure we bump heads from time to time, but I've got to tell you, I'm proud to call you my relation. Anybody can see what kind of man you are, Trey. And your father knew you through and through. I'd bet my last dollar that he never meant for you to lose someone as special as Maddie. I think he meant for you to find the right woman and
keep
her. You hit the jackpot, Trey. You found the right woman. You'd never hurt Maddie. I know that and I think you know that, too. So
keep
her.”

Trey's head cleared and suddenly, he saw the possibilities. Maybe his father had meant for him to have a better, more fulfilling life. Maybe, he had believed Trey capable of love and devotion, something he couldn't quite manage. Maybe his father had thought Trey the better man. But could he look beyond his past and see instead a future with Maddie?

Hell, she'd been the one all along to believe in him even when he didn't believe in himself. She'd tried pointing out all the qualities she admired in him, tried
to make him see he had worth and staying power. Maddie had had faith enough for them both.

He slid his hand down his jaw, realizing he'd already hurt her in so many ways. He'd pushed her away again and again. He'd made love to her last night until they could barely move a muscle and then he'd let her leave the ranch. He'd made so many mistakes with her. “It's too late.”

“No. She's not gone yet.”

“She's not?” An inkling of hope developed.

“I saw her truck parked outside of the Cactus Inn.”

“The Cactus Inn?”

“Hey, don't question it, just consider it a lucky break. She's probably still there. I passed her not fifteen minutes ago.”

Trey jumped up and gave Jack a big bear hug. “I owe you, cousin.”

“Don't kiss me and we'll call it even. Now go.”

Trey raced inside to grab his hat and keys, then headed out. He'd figure out what to say once he found her and prayed it would be enough.

Trey thanked his lucky stars that Maddie's truck was still parked outside the Cactus Inn. He entered the motel and strode straight over to the reception desk. “Hi, Jody.”

“Hey, Trey. Haven't seen you around much. What brings you in here?”

He and Trey had been buddies in high school and now Jody ran his late father's motel. “I'm looking for Dr. Brooks. You know, Maddie Brooks, the veterinarian.”

Jody nodded. “Yeah, I know who she is. You're the third person to come looking for her this morning, and heck, she just checked in after breakfast.”

“She checked
in?
”

Jody nodded.

“Who else came looking for her?”

Jody shrugged. “Don't know their names, but that woman sure has got herself a lot of gentlemen callers. First one, then another. Heck, Trey, you're the third this morning.”

Trey grimaced, not knowing what to make of all this. There was only one way to find out. “What's her room number?”

“It's 202 D. Take the stairs then turn right. Boy, seems like I've said that a whole lot this morning.”

“Thanks. Do you know if anyone is still up there?”

Jody shrugged shoulders that had at one time blocked their high school football team's most competitive rivals. He'd been the best darn tackle at Hope Wells High. “Nope. Sorry, man. Good luck.”

Puzzled, Trey climbed the stairs and found Maddie's room. He took in a lungful of air, still not sure what to say exactly and not even sure she'd be alone in there to listen. He knocked briskly. “Maddie, it's Trey.”

Seconds ticked by, seeming more like an eternity. Then she opened the door and they stared into each other's eyes. Overwhelmed at seeing her again, at seeing what he might have lost, Trey's body shook powerfully, the tremble coursing the length of him.

Seeing her standing before him, with those curious green eyes questioning him, Trey realized just how much he loved this woman. He realized what a fool he'd been. He'd nearly tossed away the most precious thing that would ever enter into his life. He stood there, gazing at her, seeing his future.

“Trey?”

Yanking off his Stetson, he smiled. “Morning.”

She smiled back tentatively. Trey couldn't blame her. Basically, they'd said their goodbyes between the sheets last night, so he understood her bafflement. She probably thought she'd never see him again. That was his fault. All of it was his fault.

“Morning.”

“Can I come in? Or are you, uh, busy?”

“I'm busy, but of course you can come in.”

Trey entered the small, quaint room noticing Maddie's suitcase opened and half of her clothes put up in the closet area. Her other belongings were strewn about the room. Fortunately though, they were alone.

Trey let his gaze wander for only a second or two, before lifting his eyes back to her. He was almost afraid if he took his eyes off her for too long, she'd vanish and he already knew how it felt to have Maddie there one minute, then gone the next. He didn't want to experience that sensation ever again.

“What are you doing here?” she asked quietly.

“I was wrong about Storm.”

Maddie blinked. “You came here to talk about Storm?”

God, this was so hard. He didn't want to make her crazy, but Trey had never been great with words. “Not really, but I thought you should know that you were right all along. He's…well, he's as amazing as you are.”

Maddie continued to stare at him, her expression softening a little. “Thank you,” she said with a small smile.

God, how he loved her. She looked so darn pretty today with her auburn hair pulled back into a ponytail. Wearing nothing special, just jeans and a blouse, the wholesome woman he'd made passionate love to last night, was more beautiful, more sexy, more…every
thing than any woman he'd ever met. It stunned him how much he'd already missed her presence at the ranch. Trey cleared his throat. “What, uh, what are you doing here?”

“Me? I'm moving in for a while.”

“I thought you needed to get to Denver right away?”

Maddie frowned and Trey realized how his comment might appear to her—as if he was eager to see her go. Hell, he really wasn't good at this.

“I'm not moving to Denver.”

Stunned, Trey's heart did a somersault. “You're not?”

“No. I never was, Trey.” Her eyes met his and they looked at each other for a long moment. “Denver would have been a great opportunity, but it isn't for me. Hope Wells is my home. I realized that yesterday. I have great friends here, a good practice. I have everything I want.” Then she glanced away. “Well, almost everything.”

Trey kept silent and she went on. “Seems my party wasn't the only surprise I received yesterday. My insurance came through. I have enough funds to rebuild my office. I decided to take some time off to work on the design. I've already contacted an architect and he's going to help me with my plans. I said good-bye to Nick this morning, too.”

Maddie smiled warmly and her eyes sparkled. “You see, Trey Walker. You're not the only one around here with
staying power.
”

Once again, Maddie had amazed him. He took a moment to recover from her bold assessment then grinned, agreeing with her. Finally. “Damn straight, I'm not. We both have
staying power.
”

Maddie let out an uncertain chuckle. “We do?”

He nodded. “Yeah, honey, we do. I just sort of fig
ured it all out. I love you, Maddie. I love you so much that I can barely breathe. I love you so much that if you had gone to Denver, I would have followed you and begged you to come back with me. And it took me all this time to realize it. No, that's not right.
You
made me realize it. You taught me so much. You had the trust and faith in me that I didn't have. You made me see myself in a different light. And if it's not too late—”

“Oh, Trey. It's not too late. It never could be.” The guarded look on Maddie's face disappeared, replaced by a soft sweet expression. “I've always loved you.”

Trey took her hand in his, weaving their fingers together and holding tight. “I know I've been a fool, but I'm ready to remedy that. I love you, sweetheart. I want to marry you and live the rest of my life with you by my side.”

Maddie reached up to caress his cheek. “Yes.”

Joyous, Trey flung his hat in the air. “Yes? Yes, you'll marry me?”

On tiptoes, Maddie kissed him soundly on the lips. “Yes. I'll marry you.”

Staggered by his good fortune, Trey confessed. “I never thought I'd say those words.”

Maddie agreed. “I never thought I'd
hear
those words.”

Both laughed as Trey took her into his arms and kissed her long and hard, crushing their lips together. “Move back to the ranch. Live with me. Be my wife. Be my lover.”

Maddie's beautiful face beamed. “I'll be all of those things to you, Trey. And more.”

Trey couldn't keep from smiling, his heart soaring. “More?”

She nodded and led him over to the bed. “So much more,
baby.
”

“I
do.” Trey Walker uttered the words slowly, both awed and a little bit frightened. In a million lifetimes, he'd never dreamed he'd say those words. Especially not to Maddie Brooks, the auburn-haired beauty directly beside him, her wide eyes filled with love. They sat atop their mounts under an arbor of lush traveling vines in the small garden area behind his house at 2 Hope Ranch. Maddie insisted Storm be a part of the wedding, too, and the feisty yet gentled stallion carried the most beautiful bride Hope Wells had ever seen.

Trey took great pride in his soon-to-be wife. Maddie hadn't given up on Storm. She'd found a way, through patience, careful thought and clever maneuvering, to bring the animal around. She'd read Storm correctly, bringing a gentle mare into his corral, one not impressed or intimidated by his wild nature. This was a female un
like all others and Storm, smart creature that he was, came to recognize that fact.

Trey smiled at the similarities, wondering if he really wasn't marrying a sorceress. No, he realized instantly, the magic they made together was real and solid, not something that could be whirled away on a whim.

“I do, too,” Maddie said, happy tears welling in her eyes. A gentle breeze blew by, messing her hair enough to give his down-home girl a sexy look.

Trey swallowed hard, intrigued by the young woman who'd be living with him until the end of time. In truth, the petite green-eyed female scared the hell out of him with her innocent looks and wholesome demeanor. He'd never loved so deeply, so completely. Maddie was the exact sort of woman Trey wanted. And he planned to keep her in his heart forever.

Under the minister's guidance, Trey placed the ring on Maddie's finger and spoke his vows, peering deeply into her eyes telling her in a silent message that she'd have no reason to ever doubt his love. His word is good as gold.

Maddie smiled, sealing the deal with vows of her own.

Storm whinnied and sidled up against the mare that had settled him, brushing soft white satin against Trey's leg. He leaned over his saddle, lifted the delicate bridal veil and kissed his new wife.

Life was good again at 2 Hope Ranch.

And it was bound to get even better.