CHAPTER 185: DRIVING LESSONS

Zack stepped back and looked at Mason who was standing almost 10 feet away from the two. "Well, Madison is busy getting cleaned up and you’re dressed already, so why don’t you go next door and enjoy a malted? Get to know this fine young man. I’m sure that he’ll be the first of many suitors that will come around looking at you."

Mason, Tim and Eli walked out the front door of the shop and went next door to Constantine’s for a malted and maybe fries if Tim could talk into buying them.

Sonja walked out in time to see the three leave. "Mr. Zack is going to be okay. Tim’s a survivor and we all know that, and that Mason might be just what he needs. You know Tim’s not going to do anything to harm that young man. Ty told me that he moved back into his old quarters and the babies are with the Hawthorns. We need somebody to bring joy back into his life—it’s been lost since Timothy passed away."

Zack shook his head and thanked Sonja for her words. He knew she was correct; he still missed his and Ben’s last child after all these years.

Madison stepped out of the back and he looked perfect. He started looking around for Mason and asked where his brother was.

"They’re next door at the soda shop with Eli and a special guest, Tim." Zach went on, "The three of them are having a malted and knowing Eli, it’s going to be a super sundae and French fries."

"Mr. Zack, you don’t understand. Mason’s special—he trusts everyone and thinks everyone is polite and good. He doesn’t understand that there are people that will take advantage of him and do things that aren’t nice."

"Cool your jets, Madison. I, for a fact, know Tim and he’s a very cordial and respectful young man. I’ve known him for years and he will respect your brother. He will not attempt to do anything toward him or with him without his permission, and Eli’s there to watch after him and alert me in two seconds. I will take care of Tim with no problems."

"You won’t have to take care of him. I don’t care who he is—if he hurts my brother, I’ll take care of him."

Sonja stepped in front of Madison and put her finger in his chest. "You, young man, will not touch that young man Tim whatsoever. You will sit your smart ass right down and I’m going to tell you a few things about Tim."

She continued, her voice firm but caring. "Tim is the most kind and gentle soul on the Z1. He didn’t start out here—he started out far away. He showed up one night and was taken in by this kind gentleman right here. He raised the young man as his very own. Before you got here, there was a bad time, a dark time on the Z1, and it cost Tim his only child who was waiting to be born. His mate couldn’t forgive himself for being in a work area while pregnant and was the victim of sabotage. He was hurt bad, the baby was lost, and it ultimately cost them both dearly—they are no longer together. This is the first time that Tim has showed interest in anyone or anything. Your brother could do a lot worse than catching the eye of such a grand man. And before you raise your hand to Tim, you better look behind you—the man that stands there is his father."

Madison put his head down and turned around towards Zach. "I’m sorry, sir. It’s just that I have to protect him. Seeing what I did on that orbiter during the attack still haunts me—there was so much blood, uncle Brayden with the hole through him so big I could stick my fist straight through him, one of my cousins with half his head missing. I tried to help but all I could do was keep my brother safe and not let them see what I did. I know my temper is not good—I almost go into a blind rage when someone talks about hurting someone else, especially my family. I do apologize. I didn’t know who my brother was with or his intentions toward him."

Sonja walked up to Madison and wrapped her arms around the big guy, patting him on his back. "We’ve all lost loved ones and it hurts, but we must continue to grow as individuals and go on with our lives. Your brother Mason is starting a new life. Once you get to know Tim, you’ll respect him as much as he will respect you, but you can’t go with a preconceived notion. Help your brother, Madison. Help him understand and learn to be on guard to protect himself."

Zack walked up and wrapped his arms around both of them, echoing the same sentiment.

Looking at Zack, Sonja smiled. "I do believe it’s about time the three of us went next door to that soda shop to have our own malted and check up on the three of them. You do know that they could get in trouble even at Constantine’s, knowing Eli." The three left the shop and walked next door.

Tim and Mason were in deep discussion. Mason was telling him all about the space orbiter, growing up there and how different this place was, how relaxing it was to be able to walk in a field, run his hands through the grass, smell the roses in the garden. He was so glad to be here and off of that old dreary tin can.

Mason looked up and saw Madison approaching. "Madison!" he called him over. Madison walked up to the table.

"Madison, would you like a new friend? This is Tim. He’s offered to show me around and point out things that I need to learn on the Z1 to stay out of trouble. Tim, I would like for you to meet my brother—excuse me, younger brother—Madison. Don’t mind his grumpiness, he’s always pounding on somebody, but I guess that’s his Irish/Scottish temper combined with a little bit of Goran... I meant Genmen."

Tim stood up and shook Madison’s hand. "It’s good to meet you, and I want us to become friends."

Madison realized that Tim was a good guy—he wasn’t out to get a piece of action, at least not right away. But if Tim made Mason happy, who was he to stand in the way? Sonja and Zack joined them for a malted.

Almost two hours later, Zack realized he needed to get back to the ranch and Eli should be getting back also. Madison decided that it was time to pull back the reins a little bit.

"Tim, I’m going ahead and ride back with Mr. Zack and Eli. When the two of you get through here, please make sure that Mason is delivered to the front door so he’s safe, and enjoy yourselves."

Tim stood up and shook Madison’s hand. "I will make sure that no harm comes to this young man, and I’ll let it be known that it’s hands-off unless they want to mess with me or a pissed off Irishman. I don’t think anyone’s going to step over that line."

Madison and Zack were walking out to the speeder and Eli was already waiting. Zach tossed Madison the key fob and remarked, "One Ranch Drive, please. You might as well learn to drive sometime because I have a feeling that a lot of chauffeuring work will be coming your way."

Madison was shocked. "Sir, I have to have pointers because the only thing I’ve driven is not on the ground yet. We used to have transportation movers on the orbiter but not out in the wide open."

"Son, if you can move equipment around in an orbiter in the stars with tight quarters, you can hit that roadway out there and hold it between the white line and the other line. You just have to know where the throttle and brake are, and you know where the steering is. Just watch your speed."

Madison was excited but also nervous as hell. He made sure he was buckled in and double-checked all the buckles three times. Zach showed him the motion shifter and how to throttle up, throttle back—just the basics—and told him to take him home.

"Take me home, Madison," Zach said with a smile.