Big Man's Claim (Big Men Big Hearts 2)

Turning on my blinker, I pull into the driveway. Bran slows down at the entrance, his eyes lingering on mine for a long second. My heart starts to beat a little faster and my breathing slows as we stare at each other.

Giving me a light wave, Bran hits the gas and drives off. A wave of sadness washes over me as I watch his taillights disappear. I miss him. It's strange and weird, but I actually miss him.

Parking my truck up near the house, Ryder opens the door and smiles.

“Hey, stranger, you're a day early,” he says, walking to my door. His eyes widen as he sees my dirty clothes and scraped up skin. “What the hell happened to you?”

Ryder opens my door, and I carefully step out. “It's a long story.”

He looks me up and down, his eyes firmly setting on my ankle. “You're hurt, Mel. You're hurt really bad.” Looking up at the house, he calls out to Jenna, “Hey, hold the door open!” He sweeps me off my feet and carries me into the house. Buttercup nearly knocks him over as he runs straight through door to his food dish.

“I'm fine, Ryder, really.”

“You're not fine. Look at the size of your ankle. We need to get you to a doctor.”

“Ryder, stop, you're being insane right now. I'm all right.”

“You're going to the doctor,” he snaps as he sits me in one of the kitchen chairs.

“If it's still swollen tomorrow, then I'll go. I can move it. I know it's not broken or anything.”

“You don't know that. Are you a doctor?”

Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. I'm not arguing with him about this. I'll go tomorrow if it doesn't feel any better. But for tonight, I just need my bed.

Jenna comes out of the bathroom with the first aid kit and sets it down on the kitchen table. “You really did a number to yourself, huh?”

“Yeah, my trip didn't exactly go as I imagined it would.”

Ryder lifts my foot gently into his lap, and carefully pulls off my unlaced boot. “So, spill it already. What the hell happened?”

As Jenna feeds Buttercup and Ryder cleans my head wound, I tell them everything that happened. Well, almost everything. . . I tell them about the unusually high water and washing machine style rapids that sucked me in. I tell them how I lost my pack and hit my head. And reluctantly, I tell them about Branson, everything but the dirty sex. That part is just for me and Bran.

Ryder and Jenna glance at each other. It's quick, but I see it the second I say his name.

“What?” I ask, looking between them. “What was that look for?”

“Nothing, don't worry about it. I'm just really glad he was there to help you. I don't know what I'd do if something ever happened to you.”

“Tell me what it is. You can't look at each other like that and not tell me. What do you know about him?”

Jenna starts to pick up the kit, keeping her eyes down. “It's nothing, Mel, just rumors. You know how that works around here.”

“Please,” I beg, laying my head back as I groan. “Will somebody please just tell me? I mean, I think I have the right to know, the guy did just save my life.”

“Fine,” Ryder groans. “Supposedly, Branson is a loner, like an extreme loner, who hates people. From what I heard he had a child and a wife, but he left them. He's a deadbeat, a guy who doesn't want anything to do with his kid or estranged wife.”

My jaw hangs open, eyes wide. He never mentioned anything about having a child. Actually, the more I think about it, he didn't say much at all about his personal life. I was the one who spilled my guts.

“He never mentioned any of that. He was really nice to me.” My voice is quiet and weak. I don't want to sound hurt, but I know my brother can sense something.

“Stay away from him, Mel. He's not sane, there's something wrong with a guy who walks away from their kid. I don't want you near him.”

“I literally just met the guy and you're acting like I'm going to run off with him.”

My brother's eyes zero in on mine. “Stay away from him.” The tone of his voice sparks a nerve. I know he's looking out for me, but he doesn't need to talk to me like I can't make my own decisions.

“You can't tell me what to do. I'm eighteen. I'm an adult now. I can do whatever the hell I want.”

Jenna rests her hand on my shoulder, chiming in. “You don't want a guy like him anyway. He's a hermit, Mel. An angry, people hating hermit. Maryanne refers to him as the town Grinch.” She giggles, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “But I'm glad he was there to rescue you. He did a good thing.” Her eyes flare as she glances at my brother, warning him to knock it off. The argument Ryder and I are about to have fizzles out with her glare.