Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 77936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Maverick shot me a pained expression. “I’m not sure—”
“Go on. I’ll watch the girls.” A fight seemed to be brewing, and I wanted no part of it. The best thing I could do was try to shield the girls from the coming argument.
“Okay.” Maverick’s dour face looked like he was following Faith to the salt mines, but I couldn’t rescue him this time. I wanted to warn him of my suspicion Faith was on something, but not where the girls might hear. And Faith would just deny it in any event.
I stiffened my spine, set my shoulders, and let her lead Maverick away. I didn’t relax after they were gone, as I stood there watching the girls on their horses. Hannah deserved so much better than what she was getting from Faith. What she needed was Maverick in her life permanently, and she wasn’t likely to get that if Faith forced a sale and hightailed it back to Houston. My stomach churned. I hated this for all of us.
Willow showed off some of Pepperjack’s funnier tricks to much laughter. She was a decent distraction, as was the pinging of my phone with various family and friends checking in on Willow and needing this or that favor.
“Look at Willow back on the horse.” Grayson ambled over to where I stood at the side of the arena. “I heard about her fall yesterday. Bet you’re relieved.”
I whistled in agreement. “You can say that again.”
“Why the murderous expression then?”
“I don’t want to gossip.” I chose my words carefully. I didn’t want to lie to my friend, but I also wasn’t going to air Maverick’s business. “Faith is all riled up though. You’ll probably hear soon enough.”
“Oh, she already told me when she was looking for Maverick earlier, and I saw her and Maverick arguing out by the old barn just now. Some fancy lawyer friend thinks he knows how to defeat the will.”
“Yep.” I gave a tight nod.
“Maverick was fighting back though. He might surprise us both. Cowboy up.” Grayson and I had never directly discussed what happened between Maverick and me as teens or my current feelings for Maverick, but Gray was a decent guesser.
“Don’t count on him staying.” I said the words as much for me as for Grayson.
“I’ve seen how he looks at you.” Yep, Grayson was astute, all right. “Then and now both. If you ask, he’ll stay.”
“But I won’t ask.” I schooled my expression to stay neutral. I also didn’t bother disputing Grayson’s conclusion that there were feelings between Maverick and me. “This place has too many bad memories for him. Honestly, I don’t blame Faith for wanting to get the hell out of here. I wish better for the area, but I understand why the Lovelorn kids don’t want to stick around.”
“You could try wanting better for you.” Grayson gave me a pointed look.
“I’m not reason enough to stay.” Across the arena, Hannah and Willow were giggling as they walked their horses in a gentle circle, likely cooling down. I wished things could be so much simpler for all of us. “Last thing I want is Maverick miserable.”
“He hasn’t seemed miserable in weeks.” Grayson shrugged. “Have you seen what he’s done at the house? Big makeover. He asks good questions at trust meetings. He saddles up and rides with Hannah. He’s devoted to that girl if nothing else.”
“He’s a good uncle,” I allowed.
“If he wants to try ranching, I’m not going to discourage it.”
“Not asking you to.” My voice came out far too stiff and formal.
“You know what corporate interests would do to this place. Faith’s done nothing but encourage the developers who keep sniffing around. They’d have a bunch of hobby ranches, a golf course, probably a country club in by this time next year.”
“Yeah.” My grip on the gate to the arena tightened. I’d been on a mission to get Maverick to not sell, but now that he was actually thinking of staying and running the place himself, all my old worries about him staying somewhere he hated came rushing back.
“Dad!” Willow came loping over, Hannah right behind her, ride done. “Can Hannah come back with us? I want to show her the set of books Grandma got me for my birthday.”
“Sure. Hannah needs to ask her mother though.” I grimaced at the necessity of involving Faith.
“If she’s gonna fight with Uncle Maverick, I’d rather be with Willow.” Hannah had a pragmatic tone that hit me square in the chest.
“I understand.” I nodded. “Do you want me to go ask her for you?”
“I’m texting.” Hannah held up her phone. “She said fine.”
I made sure the girls put away the horses and did their stable chores before we headed out. Maverick and Faith were nowhere in sight. A hot breeze swept through the ranch, lending an ominous air to the late morning. My back prickled. Trouble was rustling.