Page 3 of Maverick

As he gathered the wheelbarrow, rake, and shovel, he couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the rolling hills outside the barn doors. The men were busy baling hay in the fields. Maverick preferred to sweat in the cool shadows of the barn rather than under the scorching sun.

With his tools in hand, he entered the first stall and set down the wheelbarrow. He began scooping up old, soiled bedding and depositing it into the wheelbarrow. Moving on to each subsequent stall, he worked methodically until they were all cleared of waste.

Taking a break from his labor, Maverick crossed the aisle of the barn and picked up a heavy bale of fresh straw. He carried it back to the first stall, cut the twine, and carefully spread it out over the floor, creating a cozy bed for the horses. He repeated this process with each stall, pausing occasionally to wipe away sweat from his brow.

By the time he reached the third stall, his shirt was completely drenched with sweat. Taking off his hat and wiping his forehead with a bandana, Maverick decided to remove his shirt altogether. He hung it on a nearby peg and continued working, enjoying the feel of air against his skin.

Despite feeling hot and tired, Maverick found solace in this simple task. Tending to the stalls was therapeutic for him, and he never had a problem doing this chore. Since it had to be done every day, the men took turns doing it.

As one of the foremen on the sprawling Triple C ranch, Maverick had earned the respect of his men through hard work and dedication. Each day, he would assign their tasks and then join in alongside them whenever needed. It was this hands-on approach that made him a respected leader among the workers.

For twenty-four years, Maverick had called this ranch home. At eighteen, he stumbled upon the job posting on the corkboard at the Feed Store in Clifton, and instead of just calling, he showed up in person. The owner, Robert Coleman, hired him on the spot and Maverick was grateful for the opportunity. He had only planned to stay for the summer, but he fell in love with the land and decided to make it his permanent home.

In his early days at the ranch, Maverick slept in the bunkhouse with his fellow workers. He was amazed by the sheer size of the Triple C; one hundred thousand acres of open land that required constant maintenance. But after being promoted to foreman at just twenty-five years old, he moved into one of the foreman’s cabins and cherished the solitude it offered. As much as he enjoyed the company of his coworkers, Maverick had always been a lone wolf.

Growing up, Maverick had been raised by loving parents who had adopted him when he was just an infant. He never knew anything about his biological parents and didn’t have any desire to find out. All that mattered to him was that he was loved by his adoptive family. They were everything to him.

But as he thought about his parents, Maverick realized that it had been too long since he last visited them in Cheyenne, Wyoming. After graduating high school, and his entire world falling apart, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery before ending up in Clifton, Montana where he found his true sense of belonging. Despite spending so many years here, Maverick still felt content and fulfilled with his decision to stay.

With beads of sweat trailing down his brow, Maverick pushed the wheelbarrow through the scorching heat toward the toolshed. As he approached, he spotted Warren making his way into the barn.

“Hey, Warren,” he called out.

“Maverick. Damn, it’s insufferable today.”

“You’re telling me. I don’t envy the men baling hay in this weather.”

“It’s a tough job any time of year, but in the summer, it’s brutal.”

“Yeah. Are you heading out?”

“I’m going to ride the east fence. Wes mentioned that you sent some of the guys to the other pastures, but no one was available for that area. Since I’ve finished my work for the day, I’ll take care of it.”

“I was actually planning on doing it once I’m done here.”

“Well, let me handle it. You probably need a break.”

Maverick grinned at his boss. “Are you ready to tie the knot?”

Warren nodded. “More than ready.”

“Peyton is an incredible woman. You and Wes found yourselves good women.”

Warren chuckled. “And we know it.”

“It’s a good thing,” he said.

Warren shook his head, a slight frown creasing his forehead. “After all the bullshit I went through with Peyton, I’m surprised we made it this far.”

“But you did. I’m happy for you both.”

Warren slapped him on the back, a smile spreading across his lips. “I appreciate that. I’ll go saddle Blaze and head out. If you need me, just give me a call.”

“Will do. Don’t forget to take some water with you.”

“I won’t. Have a good weekend.” Warren turned and walked into the tack room, preparing for his ride.

Meanwhile, Maverick cleaned up the barn and put everything away in its proper place. He checked his watch and saw that it was almost time for him to head home. As a foreman, he had set hours for himself and the other ranch hands worked until their tasks for the day were completed, no matter how long it took. Maverick would often stay behind to help when needed, but most days he left at five.

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