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)
“Dad.” Willow released a long-suffering groan. “I’m fine. Really. You can stop helicoptering anytime now.”
“Sorry.” I patted her stack of quilts and straightened a toppled teddy bear. Soon, she’d be too big for stuffies and bunk beds and need more teen-appropriate decor, but tonight, she was still my little girl. “You gave us all quite the scare.”
“I know. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry for Pepperjack too. He must have been so scared.” Willow sounded far more concerned for the horse than herself. “I want to see him tomorrow.”
“I’ll try to make that happen.” I’d already called the office to let Dolores know I was taking a rare sick day to be with Willow.
“Maybe when we take Maverick back?” Yawning, Willow gave a big stretch. “He’s staying over, right?”
“Uh…” I made a helpless noise. “Hadn’t exactly thought that far ahead. He volunteered to drive to the hospital and then back here. Not sure what the plan is.”
Once we’d arrived at the house, Maverick had shooed me in the direction of Willow’s room. Some friend I was that I hadn’t thought about him getting home or what he might be doing while I tucked Willow in.
“Well, he’s gotta sleep somewhere.” Willow’s tone was sleepy yet pragmatic. “I’m glad you had a friend. Grandma said you were too much of a nervous wreck to drive yourself.”
“Grandma wasn’t wrong.” I gave a tight laugh. “So, you’ll be okay if Maverick is still here in the morning?”
“Yep.” Willow yawned again. “Just take me to see my horse.”
“Deal. You sleep now.” I pulled her covers up. She seemed to have come to some sort of peace about Maverick. I wished I could say the same as I continued to be a jumbled mess about his presence in our lives and what it meant for all of us. “I’ll check in on you later.”
I shut Willow’s door with a click, resisting the temptation to hunt down her old baby monitor. All her tests at the hospital had been blessedly normal, but that didn’t stop me from worrying. I padded down the hall, where I found Maverick cleaning my kitchen. The fridge, dishwasher, and flat-top stove all sparkled.
“You didn’t have to clean.” Weary beyond all reasonableness, I collapsed into one of the chairs at the small kitchen table.
“Eh. It was something to do and one less thing on your list, Sheriff.” Maverick pointed to my always-growing to-do list on the fridge.
“Thanks.” I was about to lay my head on the table when he set a steaming mug in front of me.
“I made you tea.”
“Not sure I’m in the mood for a hot drink.” I’d nearly lost my dinner when Willow hit the dirt, and my stomach continued to be none too sure of itself.
“It has whiskey in it.”
“Bless you.” If ever I needed a stiff drink, this was it. I took a long, bracing swallow, letting the burn warm all the places frozen by fear. “Okay. That helps.”
“Think you can sleep?” Maverick was hovering even more than I had with Willow. “You should shower. Hannah went to bed a while ago, but I’ll call Adler or—”
“You don’t need to leave.” I held up a hand. “It’s the middle of the night. Even Willow’s expecting you to be here in the morning. She’s banking on a chance to see her horse when we take you home.”
“Oh. Okay.” Maverick absorbed this news with wide eyes and restless hands. “If you’re sure?”
“Come shower with me.” Standing, I finished the rest of my tea and set the mug in the sink. “Bathroom door locks. You can make sure I don’t topple over.”
Of course I checked on Willow one more time before locking my bedroom and bathroom doors. She was out and snoring softly, seemingly already past the worst of her fall. I hoped I could say the same for myself soon, but my head continued to churn as I joined Maverick in the small bathroom off my bedroom.
Blessedly, Maverick didn’t seem inclined to push me to talk. Instead, he continued what he’d been doing all night, silently supporting me through little tasks like getting the shower going and laying out two towels. My rumpled uniform was a problem for the cleaners, and I let it fall in a heap as Maverick also stripped.
He motioned for me to get in the shower first. The remodeled tile shower was the only thing remotely spacious about the room and a selling point for the house. However, two grown men were still tight fit. But Maverick seemed intent on making sure I got most of the hot water, soaping my chest and back with firm, soothing hands.
“That’s good.” I leaned into his touch, taking a full inhale for what felt like the first time in hours. The space smelled minty and clean, a stark contrast from the hospital. God, it all could have gone down so much worse. My breaths turned uneven again, and Maverick draped himself over my back, silently holding me up. I pushed my face under the spray, as much for the distraction as to cover any escaping tears.