Chapter 14

Stryder

 

Why was he trying so hard to convince Melody she belonged with him? How many letters had she ignored of his? For some reason, the checks weren’t cashed. Fine. Whatever, but why couldn’t she have at least answered one of his letters?

And why, after all of the time spent ignoring his emotions and pleas in the letters, was she agreeing to see him? Not only that, but she was so emotionally charged. She’d even accused him of moving on from her after leaving.

If she’d gotten his letters, she’d have known he’d never moved on. He’d never been complete without her. Maybe… and he couldn’t let himself get too hopeful… Maybe she’d never gotten his letters. Maybe she didn’t know how much he loved her and needed her or what he was doing for her.

Things were looking up. Maybe he could find the courage to ask her about the letters, ask her for more clarification on the last ten years without her. Maybe they could find a way to get past the pain of being apart and heal each other by being together.

A part of him had never believed she’d be the kind to reject him so fully. But his pride had kept him away in case she had married Brock, in case the rejection was more than just ignoring letters. Clint’s death had opened a door and Stryder couldn’t miss the opportunity it afforded him – to ask her why and if there was a chance still.

Melody hadn’t turned him down completely the night before. With the keys to the flower shop to hand over to Melody, Stryder couldn’t help but think that maybe now she wouldn’t be able to say no to him. Would she give him another chance? Could they start back where they left off?

Maybe she would want to know what had happened, or maybe she would like to know that Clint had more than enough money to pay off the loans over the years. Stryder had no idea what had happened to the money he’d sent, all he knew was nothing was cashed. His checks had never been cashed. And from the sounds of it, Melody had worked hard since her mother had left and she hadn’t stopped.

His heart had to believe that she’d never gotten the letters. He had to believe she didn’t know about the money. Stryder was all for hard work and didn’t believe it hurt anyone, but Melody wasn’t supposed to slave all those years and still end up losing her home. That wasn’t fair nor was it what Stryder had planned for her.

He hoped Melody would be happy with the flower shop and what he was doing for Two Rides. He wanted to buy her home for her and pay it off, but how did he do that when he wanted her to live with him? He needed her and the more he was around her, the more he had to believe she needed him still, too. Living without her wasn’t an option anymore. Not if he had to buy everything in the state of Montana to prove it.

Brock couldn’t be an option for her, not anymore. The woman he’d fallen for would never have let any man touch her like that. Stryder’s blood boiled just thinking about the way Brock had grabbed Melody.

Clint had to be wrong about the relationship between Melody and Brock. Melody wasn’t marrying him, at least not anymore. She couldn’t. Stryder wouldn’t let her.

Stryder’s feelings hadn’t faded at all. He’d hoped he wasn’t so attached to her, but the last couple times he’d seen her had reminded him just how much he had always loved her. She was home for him – more than Two Rides, more than Clearwater County, more than Montana.

If anything, his feelings had intensified and he loved her, completely. How was that fair? It wasn’t, but he would be happy if she loved him in return. Could she? Was that asking too much?

Driving out to her place, Stryder swallowed against the fluttering in his chest. He wanted to ask her for more, for a second chance to win her back. Self-doubt screamed for him to turn around. The only thing he lacked confidence in was everything Melody Steel.

He took the truck slowly up the drive, furrowing his brow at the presence of another truck in her driveway. The red paint sent a shiver of trepidation along his skin. The only red truck he’d seen was Stidwell’s.

Was Brock out there? Was he hurting Melody again?

Stryder barely parked his truck before he was sliding from his seat and closing the door. Long strides carried him to the barn door where the panel hung half-open. Forcing himself to slow down, Stryder stopped before going inside. He had to make sure he didn’t compromise Melody’s safety. What if Brock was holding her hostage or something? Stryder stood to the side of the opening, listening intently to see if Melody was okay.

Brock’s voice carried outside, filled with confidence and excitement. “I think you’ll be happy. I’ll tell my dad. Again, I’m really sorry about last night. I just… I wasn’t thinking, you know? It won’t happen again. I promise.”

Stryder rolled his eyes. No way, was Melody going to accept that line. She was so much smart-

“I know, thanks.” Melody’s soft agreement took Stryder’s breath away. She knew? She understood? Stryder couldn’t believe it.

“I’ll draw up the paperwork. When do you want to have the big day?” The big day? What was he talking about? She was going to choose when they were going to do what?

Stryder adjusted his cowboy hat, listening intently for some clue that they were pretending or knew he was standing there, anything to refute what he was hearing.

“As soon as possible. I don’t want to overthink anything.” Melody didn’t even sound like she was hesitant. Everything was set in stone and she was ready to go forward with it.

It had to be marrying Brock. There was no other explanation. Stryder’s chest hurt and he leaned against the rough siding of the barn. A sharp stinging in the corners of his eyes had him clenching his jaw. No way. He couldn’t lose her, but the longer he stood there and listened, the further he felt her slip through his hands.

Why was she marrying Brock when she’d blown Stryder off for so long? Had she gotten his letters and spent time with Stidwell mocking the words Stryder had written her? Maybe she had. Maybe he didn’t know the Melody he’d thought he loved for so long. Humiliation at being so lovesick without reason burned through him.

Half-laughing, Brock replied. “Got it. I can’t wait to tell my dad. And thanks again, really.” He strode out of the barn, past Stryder without even seeing him standing to the side of the door, which was best for Brock’s health. Stryder half-stepped from the barn, ready to take his anger and hurt out on the unassuming man.

Stryder wasn’t sure how long he would let Brock live. Pure disappointment and disbelief held Stryder frozen in place. What had he done wrong that Melody would turn to Brock? Stryder was right next door, he’d offered to help. He would do anything to help Melody, and yet she was going to choose the abusive brute?

Melody stepped up to the doorway, watching as Brock drove away. Was that longing in her gaze? Was she happy to be stuck with him? Her eyes were swollen and her cheeks red. She wiped under her eyes and glanced to the side, startled when her gaze landed on Stryder. “Stryder?” A hesitant smile curled the edges of her mouth and Stryder hated himself for wishing he could kiss her.

He was angry that she was surprised he was there. Like she’d been hiding something from him. He pointed down the drive after the retreating red truck. “So, you’re doing it? You’re that desperate?” He couldn’t keep the disappointment from his tone.

Melody lifted her chin, a defiant spark in her eyes. “After all that Dad did? Do I have a choice? I thought you would understand and be proud of me.” She folded her arms tight across her waist.

Be proud of her? For ripping out his heart and standing on it? It was like she didn’t know him at all. Stryder shook his head and stared at her. “Nothing about this makes sense. How can I understand?”

Throwing her arms out to her sides, Melody cried out, “But… Stryder, now I can keep my house. I don’t understand why you’re so upset.” Her captivating scent mixed with the dusty aroma from the barn only served to irritate Stryder.

He looked at Melody as if seeing her for the first time. He didn’t recognize her. He had done all he could for her and yet there really was nothing he could do to get her back. “You’re going to give up everything for this place. You’re right. You are different.” He gripped the keys in his hand, the teeth biting into his palms, and then he held them out to her. “I bought you the flower shop, because I thought that’s what you wanted. I did it to make you happy.”

Melody folded her arms, her jaw tight as she flicked her gaze from his open hand to his face. “I didn’t ask you to.”

Stryder jerked back as if she’d stuck him. She hadn’t asked him for anything. That was the problem. He could fix all of her problems, everything, and she wouldn’t ask him. She was willing to tie herself to Brock Stidwell before asking Stryder for help. There Stryder was trying to make things easier for her and she was right. She didn’t want anything from him.

He wanted to give her his heart and a strong future and she wanted something completely different. “You’re right. You didn’t ask me to do anything.” She must want to live in squalor – okay, the Stidwells hardly lived in squalor, but it made Stryder feel better to think it.

Stryder turned, keys still in his hand and he slowly returned to the truck. He couldn’t look back, but everything inside him wanted to run to her and beg her to tell him why she wanted anything but him and his love for her.

His pride had already been trampled. He couldn’t take anymore rejection. Climbing into the truck, Stryder had to realize that changing who he was wouldn’t do anything. She didn’t want him and that was something he had to accept for once and for all.

With Clint’s death there’d been a lot of things left unresolved. He’d kept Stryder away for so long and Stryder had even been willing to believe that Melody had no part of it. She wouldn’t pick life without Stryder. She loved him. Or he’d believed she had. Now… now Stryder couldn’t help believing that Melody had a bigger role in keeping them apart than he’d originally given her.

The call of alcohol to drown his sadness was stronger than anything else. If he could just get home, he wouldn’t have to hurt anymore. Who was he kidding? Melody was home and he’d never feel anything but pain again.