Page 13 of Maverick

Good, that was exactly what I needed to hear. “How did things go last night?”

“Just as it should,” she assured me. “My blood pressure is back where it should be so whenever the doctor gets off his butt, we’ll be heading home.”

***

Hours later, we arrived back at Mabel’s house, the home where I grew up and learned how to be a man. I got her settled on the sofa, I’d called Ruby from the hospital and asked her to come and visit and I was pleased to see she’d turned up bright and early. Leaving my grandma to her shows I went outside to meet with Ruby. “Hey, thanks for coming.”

She folded her arms, big green eyes studying me carefully, she was with a little girl who was half hiding behind her. “I said I would.”

“People say a lot of things. I’m glad you’re here.” My words seemed to appease her. “And who is this pretty girl?”

“I’m Sophie,” she said with a shy smile.

I squatted down so we were eye to eye and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Sophie. I’m Maverick.”

“Maverick? That’s a pretty name.”

I chuckled and extended my hand to her. “Thanks. I’ve never been called pretty before.”

She put her little hand in mine and then pulled back with a terrified expression on her face. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly.

“Don’t be,” I said, brushing off the concern written on her face. “I think I might like being pretty.”

That pulled a giggle from her and that was good enough for me. “You girls ready to meet my grandmother?”

Ruby gave a stern nod. “You’ve talked to her?”

“Yeah,” I answered, and stood back to my full height. “She’s agreed that she needs the help and she appreciated that you needed her approval first. Come on in.” I motioned for them to follow me up the short wooden steps and into the house. “Grandma, Ruby and Sophie are here!”

Mabel’s blue eyes sparkled with pleasure as she took in the sight of her new roommates. Ruby looked beautiful if understated compared to the look she wore at The Den. Today she had on blue jeans that hugged her curves and a pale green sweater that made her eyes look a deeper shade of green. Sophie was dressed much the same, though her sweater was purple. “What a beautiful little girl you are, Sophie,” she enthused. “I would’ve made cookies, but I was in the hospital.”

Sophie gasped. “Are you all right, Grandma?”

“Sophie,” Ruby began, but Mabel waved her off.

“It’s all right. My name is Mabel, but I’d be pleased as punch if you call me Grandma.”

Sophie looked to her mother as the decision maker and Ruby nodded her approval. “Are you okay?” she asked Mabel again in a softer, worried voice.

“I am now. When you get old, you start to forget things, but with your mama’s help, I’ll live until I’m old and gray.”

Sophie’s blond brows dipped in confusion. “But you are old and gray.”

Mabel tossed her head back and laughed. “Well, you got me there, Sophie. Then maybe I’ll just live for a good long time, until you’re all grown up.” Mabel’s words seemed to calm Sophie and I wondered what the story was with these two women. I’d have to ask Slate to look into Ruby, just to be safe.

Ruby pulled a coloring book and crayons from the pink backpack I hadn’t noticed until now. “Let’s set you up in the kitchen while the grownups talk, okay?”

Sophie nodded and followed her mother into the kitchen, smiling and waving at Mabel as she passed.

When Ruby returned, she was all business. “Listen, I’m happy for this job because it’s better and allows me to spend more time with Sophie.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. “Then why do I hear a but coming?”

Mabel swatted at me, but I was too far out of her reach. “Don’t be rude, Dylan.”

Ruby’s lips tugged into a smile. “But I can’t leave Mrs. P high and dry. She’s an older woman too and she’s come to rely on me as much as I relied on her. I won’t shirk my responsibilities here, but she lives close enough that I can still do for her what I’ve been doing.” The words rushed out and her lips pressed into a thin line when she finished.

“Mrs. P?”

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