Brody (9 page)

“Would
they be willing to at least be tested?” asked the doctor.

“Even
if they’re not, those two are going to get their asses in here right now,” said
Branndon.

Brody
closed his eyes. His chances of living and spending the rest of his life with
Maddie had just taken a serious nosedive.

Chapter Eleven

Maddie
and Ted sat in the hospital cafeteria. Neither of them had said very much since
they’d left Brody’s room after the devastating news that Branndon Sr. wasn’t a
good match. Ted stirred his soup for the tenth time. Maddie was pretty sure the
spoon was already worn down on one side.

“I
thought if he found his biological father, then that would solve everything,”
said Ted. “It’s not fair, first his mother and now my son.”

“I
told Brody this is Christmas and it’s always time for miracles,” said Maddie.
She pushed her sandwich to one side. Her stomach couldn’t take food right now.

“He
told me about Branndon’s two sons not wanting their father to do this, so the
chances of getting either of them in here for testing isn’t likely,” said Ted.

“I
think Branndon Sr. is a force to be reckoned with, so I think whatever he
decides they need to do, they’ll do it.”

“But
they are grown men. I wouldn’t pressure Brody to do something that wasn’t in
his heart.”

“If
that doesn’t work out, I’ve asked my friend to set up a page with Brody’s photo
on it and ask people to get tested. I know stranger’s organs are more likely to
be rejected by the recipient, but it will buy Brody some more time.”

Ted
placed both his hands over Maddie’s. “Time is what my boy needs for Christmas…lots
of time.”

****

Brody
had a rough night but then they’d given him something to help him sleep, and
now the bright sunlight was streaming through the slats on the blind in his
hospital room. He looked over at the chairs and saw Maddie in one, Ted in the
other. A nurse crept into the room and put her fingers up to her lips.

“I
tried to talk them into going home, but they’re both stubborn mules.”

Brody
managed a smile. Maddie was a lot like his mom. When she’d made up her mind to
do something, well, nothing was ever going to change it. Which was probably the
reason she’d ran into trouble with her parents and joined the commune.

“Mr.
Mckinney said to tell you he’ll be in later while he waits for your brothers to
go get their lab work done.”

Brody
tried to sit up. “They’re coming in to the hospital?”

“Yes,
you seemed surprised,” said the nurse. She fluffed up the pillows behind him.

“I
am.”

“There’s
a good chance one of them will be a match.”

But not a chance
in hell they’ll donate
, Brody thought.

Maddie
opened her eyes, sat up, and yawned.

“Can
I get you some breakfast?” the nurse asked her.

“No,
that’s fine, really.”

“It’s
no problem to bring in another tray.”

“Okay,
I am sort of hungry,” said Maddie.

The
nurse left and Maddie stood and tiptoed to the bed. She sat down, and Brody
took her hand.

“Did
you hear the news?” asked Brody. “Branndon Jr. and Jackson are going to get
tested for a possible match.”

“There
you go. It’s a step in the right direction.” She leaned over and kissed him.

“Would
you two like me to step outside?” asked Ted.

“No,
that’s okay,” said Brody. “We’re just celebrating a small victory. Seems my two
half-brothers are getting tested.”

Ted
pumped his fist in the air. “Let’s not give up hope yet.”

****

Brody
wasn’t expecting a visit from Branndon Jr. the next day, but he strolled into
the room as Brody woke up from a nap. Brody had sent Ted and Maddie home,
finally talking them into getting some sleep in an actual bed, getting a
shower, and eating food other than the type made in a hospital.

Branndon
Jr. stood in the doorway. “Guess you’ve heard the news,” he said.

“Nope,
haven’t heard anything, because the medication keeps me sort of sleepy these
days. You going to come in or just stand there hovering?”

Branndon
Jr. took off his cowboy hat, walked into the room, and shut the door. He slid a
chair over to the side of the bed and sat.

“I’m
a perfect match for you, Brody Williams.”

Brody
didn’t know whether to try jumping up and down with joy or what.

“So
I thought it only decent that I’d come tell you in person why I can’t donate.”

It
wasn’t like Brody hadn’t seen this coming.

“It’s
fucking dangerous. Cutting me in half like that. Not that I have anything
against you, but you’re a stranger to me. I got years left on the rodeo circuit,
and what if got injured and I needed that kidney one day?”

Brody
lifted his hand to stop him from going any further with his reasons why he
wouldn’t do it.

“It’s
okay, really it is. I’d be scared too.”

Branndon
Jr. jumped up from the chair. “You saying I’m scared? Is that what you’re
saying?”

“I
didn’t mean it like that,” said Brody. He started to cough.

“You
waltz into my dad’s life, and it’s clear your mother was quite the whore
sleeping with three men. Yeah, Dad told me they had her all at the same time
one night.”

With
the little strength Brody had left in him, he made two fists. No one called his
mother a whore, no one. “You better stop right there, little brother, because I
might be dying but I can still kick your ass.”

“Little
brother, is that what you fucking think I am?”

“That’s
exactly what you are. Is that what’s bothering you? I’m the first product of
your father’s loins and not you?”

“My
parents were married when I was conceived. Not like you, you’re a bastard and
the product of a woman who put it around with every guy in town.”

That
was it. He’d given him his opportunity to quit the trash talking.

Brody
dragged himself up, swung his legs around and wobbled a bit when he stood, but
managed to
 
land the hardest of punches
of his life right on Branndon Jr.’s nose. He fell backward, breaking the chair,
blood dripping from his nose and onto his pristine white shirt. He got himself
up to his feet and was about to take a swing at Brody when the door opened and
Branndon Sr. stood there.

“What
the hell’s happening here?” he asked

“It’s
your bastard son. He’s attacked me,” said Branndon Jr.

Branndon
Jr. took two big strides over to him. “And I’ll be attacking you again. I just
spoke with Jackson and he tells me you’re a match. So I hope you were in here
arranging with your brother when you’d be giving up your kidney for him because
if not, while you’re asleep I’ll cut you open myself and take it.”

Branndon
Jr pushed his father’s arm away. “If you think I’m doing this for him, you’re
out of your mind.” He picked up his hat and headed toward the door, wiping his
nose with the back of his hand.

“Leave
now, Junior, and don’t ever bother to come back to me or this family. I will
disown you like you never existed at all.”

Branndon
Jr. turned and pointed at Brody. “You see what you’ve done. You’ve come to
Riker’s Creek, and you’ve turned Pa against me.”

Chapter Twelve

It
was the day before Christmas Eve, and Brody was dying. She’d broken his promise
to him—him and Ted. She wiped Brody’s brow before kissing it.

“Will
you take my dad to the cafeteria and make sure he eats something?”

He
was growing weaker, and Maddie had to lean in close to his mouth now to hear
what he was saying.

“Sure,
but we’ll be right back.”

“I
don’t want him to be here at the end. He did it for my mom, and he doesn’t need
to go through that again.”

“I’ll
see what I can do, but you’re not going to die.”

He
winked at her.

She
hated Branndon Mckinney Jr. with all her heart. She never thought she’d dislike
someone this much, but he’d proven her wrong.

“Ted,
you want to come get something to eat with me?” she asked Brody’s dad.

“I’m
not that hungry,” he said looking up from the magazine he was reading.

“Neither
am I, but when Brody has his kidney transplant operation, he’s going to need
both of us here around the clock, so we need to stay strong.”

Ted
smiled. She hoped he appreciated her positive thinking.

Maddie
put her arm through his and they headed outside.

“I
can’t believe it’s almost Christmas, and Brody’s slipping away so fast,” said
Ted.

“I
won’t give up. Branndon Jr. is his best hope.
 
I’m going to track him down, and if I have to tie him to an operating
table and take that kidney out myself, I will,” said Maddie.

“I
think he’s scared, and I can’t blame him one little bit.”

“Maybe
I can appeal to his ego. All rodeo riders have those, don’t they?”

“Oh,
they sure do,” said Ted.

“You
go get something to eat, and I’m going to phone his father to see if he knows
where he’s at.”

Ted
pulled her in close and hugged her. “You are so much like Brody’s mother, it’s
uncanny. It’s almost like she’s back with us.”

“Would
she have been able to change Junior’s mind?”

“I’m
guessing she’d be bringing him in here screaming and hollering.”

“Then
watch out, because that’s the way he’s going to enter this hospital.”

****

Maddie’s
hands shook as she turned off the ignition in her car. She saw the lights on in
the stables, and snow was circling around in the night air. Branndon Sr. had
told her that he had no idea where his son-of-a-bitch boy was at, but he’d
hazard a guess he’d be in the stables with his prized possession—his horses.

She
got out of the car and pulled her coat collar up. She wasn’t going to leave
until she convinced Branndon Jr. this was the right thing to do for his half-brother.
She slipped a few times before she got to the door but then went into the
stables to see him brushing a black and white horse.

“What
brings you here?” he asked, continuing with his work.

“Can’t
you guess?”

“Something
to do with Brody.”

He
turned around and looked at her.

“He
hasn’t got long unless he gets the kidney,” said Maddie.

“I’m
sorry, I really am, but I can’t do it. I have a career that’s important to me,
and I have to be one hundred percent fit.”

“More
important than your brother.”

“He’s
my half-brother.”

“He’s
your flesh and blood. I know it’s asking a lot of you, but please, I’m begging
you, please do this for him.”

He
took two strides over to her and eyed her up and down.

“If
I had money, I’d pay you to do it, but I don’t. I’m a schoolteacher who has
student loans and not much saved for retirement,” said Maddie.

“Would
you sleep with me?”

Maddie’s
initial thought was
no way, I’m in love
with Brody.
 
But if she had to
sacrifice herself to get him that kidney, then so be it.

“I
will, but I’m going to need you to sign a form saying that once we’ve done the
deed, you give him the kidney.”

Branndon
Jr. smiled. “You are quite something, Maddie. How did Brody get lucky enough to
find you?”

She
swallowed the lump in her throat. “He needs it pretty quick, so we’re going to
have to, you know, as soon as we can.”

“Sounds
good to me. I have some paper over here, you can write it up and I’ll sign it.”

Her
hand shook. She was really going to do this. She wouldn’t think about him being
inside her, and she certainly wouldn’t climax. Only Brody could bring about one
of those.

Branndon
Jr. walked over to a desk, pulled out a legal pad, and grabbed a pen. He walked
back and handed both of them to Maddie. She started to write and made sure
everything was ironclad, no backing out or finding a clause that would enable
him to renege on his promise. She passed the pen to him, and he signed his
name. Maddie had him right where she didn’t want him. But Brody would be
getting the kidney.

“Okay,
if you want to start taking off those clothes, we’ll get underway here. I
thought I might like to take you over that pile of hay over there.”

She
glanced over at it. It was going to be the most undignified thing she’d ever
done, but the deal had been made. She took off her coat and then her sweater,
her bra. Branndon Jr. wasn’t taking his eyes off her now. She blushed.

“You
have condoms?” she asked him.

He
tapped the back pocket of his jeans. She pulled down her pants and then her
panties.

Branndon
Jr. whistled. “Will you take a look at that bare mound? My brother like you
that way?”

Maddie
ignored him, marched over to the hay, and leaned over. She’d try and go to a
happy place while he fucked her. After that, she’d erase all memories of the
act.

“Hurry
up and let’s get this over with,” she shouted at him.

She
expected to feel his hands on her, to maybe have her legs kicked father apart,
and his cock inside her at the next second, but instead he burst out laughing. She
turned around.

“You
are going to be such a fun person to have in this family.”

 
“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I
got you good, Maddie Thorton. I’d already made up my mind I was going to give
him the kidney. It was the reason I was in here seeing to the horses. I have a
friend coming in to look after them while I’m laid up.”

Maddie
put one arm over her boobs, the other over her mound. “What? I mean, why did
you change your mind?”

“My
pa was heartbroken. I went to the house and found him crying like he had when
our mother died. He mourned her for not months but years. I don’t ever want to
see him like that again, especially now he’s found happiness again with Betty.
I’m doing this for him more than anyone. Plus, I’ve had offers for lots of
ladies to come around and look after me after the op.”

“So
this was your way of pranking me?”

“Oh
yeah, welcome to the Mckinney family, darling.”

Maddie
rushed over to her clothes and frantically tried to put her panties back on,
but in her panic she put both her legs through one panty hole and almost fell
over.

“Nice
body, and those are great titties. Brody has Mckinney blood in him for sure,
picking a woman like you. We love the curvy girls.” He slapped her on the
backside. She turned around ready to slap him on the face cheeks, but he held
up his hand.

“I’m
going under the knife soon, so you better not damage the merchandise.”

****

He
felt woozy. He felt relaxed and good. Whatever they’d given him in his IV to
prep him for his surgery was making him feel happy.

“Good
luck, son.” He looked up to see Ted standing over him.

“Dad,
just wanted to thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me,” said Brody.

“Now
you’re talking like you’re not going to see me again, and I want you to go in
the ER with positive attitude,” said Ted.

“Okay,
anything you say.”

“Brody,
I’ll be waiting for you.”

He
looked up to see Maddie. Had he already died, because she looked like an angel?

“I
love you, Brody.”

“I
love you, Maddie,” he said. He reached up and touched her face. Softest skin
he’d ever felt.

“Son,
Branndon Jr’s waiting in there, so it’s time to go.” Branndon Sr. squeezed his
shoulder. “We are going to have a belated Christmas, all of us together and the
best ever,” he said.

“Okay,
we have to take him in now,” said the ER nurse.

Brody
lifted his hand and waved. The last thing he saw before he went through the
doors was Maddie blowing him a kiss. They wheeled him into a room and saw
Branndon Jr. in there.

“Never
been operated on before,” he said.

“Piece
of cake,” said Brody.

“Geeze,
I’m scared shitless,” said Branndon.

“Me
too,” said Brody.

“You
want to hold my hand?”

“Sure,
why not.”

****

Maddie’s
parents had really come through for everyone. They’d brought along food and
drink while they waited for Brody and Branndon Jr. to be operated on. It was on
the cusp of Christmas Eve when the surgeon finally came out to tell them the
operation had been a success. Both men were resting comfortably. Branndon Jr.
was in the recovery room and would be transferred to a room in a few hours,
while Brody would be taken to intensive care and monitored closely to watch for
any signs he was rejecting his new kidney.

Just
after midnight, Ted was the first one to go see Brody, then Branndon Sr., and
finally Maddie got the best Christmas gift ever when she walked into the room
to see Brody already looking like he’d been given a new lease on life.

“You
doing okay?” she asked.

“Sort
of sore and tired, but I feel a whole lot better now you’re here with me.”

“It’s
Christmas,” said Maddie.

“Really,
could you give Ted the fishing rod for me?”

“I
already did. And you know what I got you?”

“Something
soft to lie on I hope.”

“Nope,
punch card to the gym. You can use it whenever you want.”

“Hope
it doesn’t have an expiration date on it, because it might be awhile before I’m
pumping iron. How’s Branndon Jr.?”

“He’s
doing really well. The nurses are making a lot of fuss over him. He’s the hero
of the day. The newspapers and TV stations are going to interview him. ‘Rodeo
star saves the brother he never knew about’.”

“Well,
good for him. You know, I don’t think he’s as badass as he claims to be.”

Oh, you don’t know the half of it. Not that
she’d ever tell Brody about the prank in the barn.

“I’m
not like Branndon Sr. personality-wise, so I guess I’m one hundred percent
Kathleen Paul. You wanted to read her diary, right?”

“If
you don’t want me to, I’ll understand,” said Maddie.

“No,
I want you to know her, understand her. Know how she met Ted.”

“Miss,
you’re going to have to leave in about two minutes,” said the IC nurse.

Maddie
nodded.

“The
diary’s over there, and I put your Christmas gift inside it.”

“Now
I’m intrigued,” said Maddie.

“Hope
you like it. It was sort of a spur-of-the-moment thing that Ted helped me
with.”

She
took the book off the stand, leaned over, and kissed Brody.

“You
were right about Christmas being the time for miracles,” he said.

She
blew him a kiss and left.

****

The
diary. She sat down and placed it on her lap as she heard the church bells
ringing signaling Christmas morning.

She
opened the diary and fingered Kathleen’s beautiful penmanship. She wished she
could have met her, but maybe she’d get to know her through this diary. Maddie
flipped through the pages, seeing something in a small velvet bag taped to one
of them.

Should
she peek? Had Brody forgotten it was there? She lifted it up, opened it, and
inside sat an engagement ring. It looked like an antique one, and she guessed
it might have belonged to his mother. Perhaps Ted had forgotten it was here but
then she saw something written on the paper underneath it, and it wasn’t
Kathleen’s writing but Brody’s.

“Maddie, would you
create another Christmas miracle for me and be my wife?”

A
tear dropped onto the page. She looked up to see Ted standing there.

“What
do you think of it?” he asked.

“It’s
beautiful.”