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)
“I’m ready to ride!” Hannah came charging back downstairs, stoic expression in place. “Any news from Uncle Maverick?”
“No.” I checked my phone again. Nothing. My back tensed, more dread gathering by the hour.
At the barn, Kat and I helped the girls saddle up before turning them loose in the arena.
“Do you think Maverick will stay on if Faith passes?” Kat asked in a low whisper as the girls circled the arena on their horses. “I’ve had a couple of calls asking if I might be looking for other work. Spread outside of Durango wants me to interview for foreman, not just barn manager or horseback instructor. I like it here though. I’d miss working with Willow especially.”
“I don’t know what Maverick will do.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I do know he wants to make a go of ranching for Hannah’s sake.”
“Want and can are two very different things.” Her tone was somber.
“Maverick can do anything he sets his mind to.” My loyalty was immediate. Was it really that simple? Let Maverick do the thing he said he wanted to do? I want you to stay. Maybe I was finally ready to say the words. My jaw set, neck tightening. “I’m not going to tell you what to do about job hunting, but I’m always going to bet on Maverick.”
“Good.”
I pivoted to discover a weary and rumpled Maverick behind me. He looked like he’d been through an apocalypse, right down to the half-tucked shirt, untied sneaker, and what looked to be a coffee stain on his pocket.
“Maverick.” I reached for him, Kat’s presence notwithstanding. “You’re back.”
Chapter 34
Maverick
“You’re back.” Colt pulled me into a tight hug, which was a bad, bad idea because I was seconds away from crumpling like a tissue as it was. Not particularly caring who was nearby, I held him tightly because the alternative was to hit the dusty barn floor outside the riding arena.
“Uncle Maverick.” Hannah had been on Magnolia when I arrived, but she’d left the horse with Kat to dash to my side, joining in the hug. Colt stepped back, but Hannah continued to cling to me, gazing upward with big, liquid eyes. “How is Mom? You can tell me the truth.”
Hannah was so, so brave, and my chest swelled with pride even as my heart ached for what she was enduring.
“Faith is alive.” I started with the most important detail, the one that had been in question for several long hours. “In the ICU, but stable, finally. She had more internal bleeding that required another trip to the OR.”
“Is she going to make it?” Hannah’s voice was wary like she was scared to hope too hard. I understood the feeling all too well.
“I’m going to be honest that it didn’t look good for a while there, but the doctors think her chances are much better now.” I needed to name a horse or perhaps a whole barn after Dr. King and the work she’d put in to save Faith. She’d lost a lot of blood, to the point that I went and donated while she was in surgery for the second time, a small thing I could do to top up the supply of our uncommon blood type. “She has a long way to go, but I talked to her before I left.”
“Oh good.” Hannah exhaled so hard that her whole body shuddered. Faith had been even more groggy for our second conversation, but what she’d said had very nearly brought me to my knees.
Dreamed. Mom said get…back on the horse. I’m gonna fight, Mav. Want to get better. Be better.
“She wants to fight,” I told Hannah now. “She wanted me to come tell you in person how sorry she is.”
Hannah buried her head in my chest. “When can I see her?”
“I’m hoping for tomorrow.” The one visitor at a time and no visitors under eighteen rules were still in place. I’d also been ordered by Faith, Dr. King, and more than one nurse to come home to sleep. “There’s more you should know though.”
“She was drinking.” Stepping back, Hannah grimaced. She’d seen far more than any middle schooler should have. That much was certain. “I knew it. Is she going to go to jail?”
“Maybe. We don’t know yet.” I hated not having an answer for Hannah. Or me. So much remained up in the air. “She did a bad thing. I think she’ll probably plead guilty and see what can be worked out. She sounds willing to go to a facility to get help after she’s healed.”
“I hope she goes.” Hannah’s voice turned firm with no small amount of anger. “I don’t want her to go to jail, but I know what rehab is. That’s where you stop drinking. She needs that.”
“Yeah, she does.” I had to agree, but I’d also seen the most vulnerable side of Faith within the last twenty-four hours. “And she needs you. Whatever you’re feeling right now is normal—angry, sad, hurt. I’m feeling all that as well. But your mom also needs our love right now.”