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)
“Yep.” Grayson was only too quick to agree. “Hannah gonna stay here with you?”
“Yeah. The lawyer is drawing up temporary guardianship papers.”
“It will be good for Maverick and Hannah,” Colt added. “Peace of mind.”
The girls came rushing out to get to the truck, each holding a paper list as they climbed up into the backseat of the truck. “We’re ready.”
“Guess I should be going to the hospital soon.” I shot Colt a look, trying to convey how much I wanted to touch him but exercising some restraint in front of Grayson. “Good luck with the shopping.”
Grayson snorted. “I’ll mosey on so you can kiss the sheriff instead of looking like a sad goat.”
We all laughed at that, and I kissed Colt fast. Easy. I’d been wondering exactly how to tell Grayson that Colt and I were a thing and whether I should leave the telling to Colt, but apparently, Grayson already knew.
Once at the hospital, I went straight to the sunny room on the general floor where Faith had been moved after the ICU. And, of course, I immediately told her about my idea for the ranch.
“So, the name change would be like a reboot for the ranch, a fresh purpose,” I summed up my pitch.
“Hmmm.” Faith’s face was a mess of fading bruises, but her eyes turned thoughtful as she nodded. “I suppose I might know some folks in Houston who wouldn’t mind shelling out for a dude ranch experience once you get the details worked out.”
“That would be awesome.” I grinned. I hadn’t expected her to be at all enthusiastic, so her support took my already good mood that much higher. “And the changes would be for you too. You deserve a second chance as well.”
“Not so sure about that.” Grimacing, she shifted in the hospital bed. “My bad choices finally caught up to me.”
Her leg was now in a walking cast, and I’d bought her some easy-wear pajamas. However, Faith continued to radiate the same vulnerability she had after the accident, a fragility that made me want to wrap her up in soft blankets and protect her, even from herself.
“You can make better ones,” I said firmly. I might not be able to save her from the legal ramifications, but I could be the biggest cheerleader on her road back. “I believe in you, Faith.”
“You’d be the first.” Her expression went from pained to more distant.
“No. Hannah believes in you too. And Mom did as well.” I was taking a chance, bringing up our mother, but I was newly determined to tackle the past, and that meant being willing to acknowledge the big losses we’d both suffered.
Faith quirked her lips. “Glad she’s not here to see this.”
“I like to think she’d be proud of you for addressing the problem. She always was a fan of personal responsibility. Everyone falls down. The key is—”
“Getting back on the horse,” Faith finished for me in a weary voice. “I remember.” She swallowed hard. “Maybe she would have liked your dude ranch idea. I think she was more than a little lonely as a rancher’s wife.”
“Yeah.” Now, I was the one with the thick voice, so I forced a lighter tone. “Dad would hate this, but hey, we’re not selling.”
“Fuck him.” Faith tried to gesture with her hand before wincing and returning it to lay on the white hospital blanket. “And yes, not selling.”
“You good with that?” I scooted my chair closer to the bed. If she wanted to try to force a sale, she could be a major thorn in my plans, so her support was crucial.
“Prove me wrong, Maverick.” She gave a little nod, sounding more like her usual regal self. “Make this work. Do it for Hannah.”
“I’m doing it for all of us.”
“You sure you’re not just staying for Colt?” Her voice came out as a tease, but her eyes stayed more serious.
“I’m staying for me.” I reached for her hand. “I love him, Faith.”
“I know. You always have.” She squeezed my fingers. “You two are almost enough to make a person believe in soulmates or something equally stupid.”
“I believe.” I grinned. And I did. When Colt and I made love, when he was inside me, I had zero doubts he was my person. I thanked fate every day for putting him in my path. “And you never know. Yours might still be out there.”
“Ha. Not looking like this.” She dropped her gaze to the blankets and various machines near the bed.
“Focus on your recovery. You never know what the future might bring.” I tried to project all the optimism I could in her direction.
“A second chance,” she mused softly before nodding. “Okay, yeah, the name is growing on me.”
“Good.” I beamed. “I’ll order a sign.”
“The ancestors are gonna haunt you when you take the old one down.” She let out a weak laugh.