Into the Storm (Signal Bend #3)(81)
Smiling into her hair, he said, “You did the right thing. And she’s not mad, I guess?”
“No. She wanted to find me to thank me. For making her mom happy by giving her a baby. Her mom died a couple of years ago.”
“Christ. That’s rough. But I’m glad she’s okay with you. Where is she? I’d like to meet her.”
Shannon laughed. “Badge took her on a trail ride. I think he’s got a crush.”
Show didn’t like that, and he tipped her chin up to look her in the eye. “You know he’s got a heavy thing for you, right? I know you know that. You’re not worried about him pushing up on your girl?”
She smiled and put her hand over his. “Badge is a gentleman—and shy. I know how he feels about me, but it’s not a problem. Even if he is transferring, she’s leaving tomorrow, and she lives in New York. And she’s not my girl. She’s her mother’s girl. That’s a line I need to keep clear of. I don’t get to be her mom.
I’m just glad she had one who could do what I couldn’t.”
Show released her chin and fed his fingers into her hair. There was something different about her. He couldn’t quite read it, but he could feel it. He wanted to think of it as calm, but until yesterday, Shannon had always been calm. So he didn’t know what this new thing, or this different thing, was. He stared into her eyes, puzzling it out.
She broke the moment, asking, “Is Keith okay?”
Show brushed the backs of his fingers over her bruised throat. “He did that to you. He’s lucky he’s breathing.” The thought of it made his pulse pound.
“I’m okay, Show. I think we’re all better off, though, if he’s okay, too. Is he?”
“He will be. Isaac’s bringing him back and sending him back to Tulsa as soon as everything’s squared away.”
“Squared away how?”
“Doctored up. And Bart’s looking for something that’ll keep him quiet.”
“He won’t say anything. He has a wide self-preservation streak.”
As she was speaking, Badger and Adrienne cleared the tree line at a trot, Badger on Gypsy and Adrienne on Toby, the mellowest horse in the stable. Even from this distance, it was obvious that Adrienne had rarely, if ever, been on a horse before, but Badge was staying right with her. Show and Shannon watched as they came up to the barn. Badge dismounted before Gypsy had come to a full stop—showoff—and flipped the reins over the post. Then he helped Adrienne down, putting his hands around her waist after she swung her leg over Toby’s rump. She was wearing low-slung jeans and that lacy top from earlier, and Badge’s hands were on her bare skin. From fifty yards, Show could see that clearly.
And it pissed him off. He sat up straighter on the swing. “You see that, right?”
“I do. I’m not sure why you’re using that tone, though. What are you upset about?” She moved so that she was no longer under his arm.
He didn’t know, so he had no answer. He continued to glare out toward the barn, now watching Adrienne lingering alone near the barn door while Badge led the horses inside. After a minute, she went in, too.
“That’s not bothering you?” It was all he could think of to say.
“No. She’s twenty—almost twenty-one. He’s twenty-two. And, whether you’re worried about him or her, she’s leaving tomorrow. Relax, Show. What is it?”
He sat back. “I don’t know. Just has me on edge. Never mind.” The kids were heading to the house, talking as they walked. Then Show turned at the grating rumble of a vehicle on the gravel road. Isaac was back with the B&B’s van, and, presumably, their favorite Tulsa lawyer. That was fast.
“Go inside. Stay inside.” He stood up, waving at Badger to hurry it along. The kid knew what he meant immediately, and put his hand on Adrienne’s back, moving her more quickly toward the house.
Shannon didn’t argue. She got off the swing and headed right inside, not even waiting for Adrienne.
Show went to the steps and held his hand out to the girl as she came up. When she took it, he eased her the rest of the way up and said, “Hey, Adrienne. I’m Showdown. I’m Shannon’s old man. Do me a favor and go on inside while we take care of this. Shannon’s in there now.”
She looked down at Badger, at the foot of the steps, who smiled and nodded. Then she turned back and looked up at Show. “Okay. Is there trouble?”
He smiled. “Not at all. Just want to keep it that way.” He was glad to see her accept that and turn to the door. “Good girl. Badge and I’ll be in in a minute.”
Once she was safely inside, Show and Badge met Isaac at the van. Show opened the passenger door, and Keith flinched away as he reached in and put his fist around his arm. The guy looked like hell, but the only thing Show had broken was his nose. “Come on, hoss. I’m done with you. Let’s go.” Isaac came up behind him, and Show knew he was watching, waiting to jump in if necessary.
Through a swollen, split mouth, Keith said. “I need to see her first.”
Show laughed and leaned in, making Keith flinch back again. “That is never going to happen. What is going to happen is you’re going to get in your big, fancy car and go home, where you will stay.”
“I need to tell her I’m sorry. None of this is what I wanted.”