Page 41 of Overdue for a Cowboy

Dodge nodded. “I’m good with it. I’m starving.” He jerked a thumb toward the door. “You want to take a walk before supper? I can show you around the farm.”

Maisie stood. “I’d love that.”

Moose followed them outside and kept up with them as they walked around the farmyard. Dodge showed her around the corrals and introduced her to his horse. Maisie found something good to say about everything. She loved meeting his horse and was entranced by the half a dozen barn cats racing around their feet. One of the cows had recently had a calf, and she cooed endearments to it as she petted its soft forehead.

They passed the huge Quonset hut that served as both garage and workshop for their trucks and the farm machinery, and Dodge paused outside the door. “I’m not sure if you’re ready for it, but we had the autobody shop tow your bookmobile trailer out here, and Ford had them put it in the shop. We can check it out if you want, or we can wait for another day when you’re feeling more up to it.”

“I’m scared to see it, but I think I need to. Just for my own peace of mind. Surely it can’t be as bad as I’m imagining.”

Dodge frowned. He hadn’t wanted to tell her before, because he didn’t want her to worry, but he didn’t want to sugarcoat it now that she was ready to see it. “I have a feeling it’s going to be worse. It’s pretty banged up. But it’s your decision.”

“Show me.”

He opened the door of the shop and flipped the switch for the overhead lights as he led her inside.

Maisie walked in after him then froze when she saw the camper that she’d spent so much time lovingly restoring.

Dodge’s heart broke for her as she let out a small cry then covered her mouth with her hand.

He hadn’t been paying much attention to the trailer when he’d found Maisie in the ditch, but he’d known then it had suffered significant damage. Since then, he’d seen some pictures Chevy had sent him, so he shouldn’t have been surprised. But now, seeing the damage through Maisie’s eyes, was overwhelming.

All the windows were either broken or cracked, large scrapes ran along the sides and chunks of pine needles were stuck in the trim where the trailer had toppled over in the trees. The steps leading inside had been torn loose on one side and hung at an angle to the door.

He opened the door then ducked his head as he followed Maisie inside.

She gasped and pressed her fingers to her mouth as she whispered, “Oh no.”

Because the inside was worse.

Several tree branches had gone through the windows, wreaking havoc on the interior. The scent of pine still hung in the air and pine needles littered the scratched laminate flooring.

“I spent half my paycheck on that flooring,” Maisie said, bending down to run her finger along a deep scratch. She lifted her headto stare at the small bookshelves that had come loose from the walls and lay broken on the floor. “I remember the day I found these bookshelves at a thrift store. They were cheap and made from particle board, but they fit perfectly into this space between the front of the trailer and the little sitting area.”

The cushions of the sitting area must have been tossed around as the trailer tipped into the ditch. A few had been torn by the branches, but a couple looked to still be in okay condition.

Maisie gripped the shoulder of her splinted arm, wrapping her good arm around herself and her bottom lip trembled as she peered at the destruction. “How am I ever going to fix all of this in time? And not just for the competition. I’m supposed to be bringing books up the mountain to the kids on Wednesday. They already missed this week. I can’t let them down again.”

“It will be okay. I’ll help,” he said, trying to reassure her.

She turned and stumbled out of the trailer, tripping on the ruined step but catching herself before she fell. Standing with her back to him, he could see her shoulders rise and fall as she took deep breaths in an obvious effort to calm herself.

Standing behind her, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his cheek to her hair. “It’s killing me to see you hurting like this. I swear, I would take away all your pain if I could.” She clutched his forearm with her good hand, and he felt her shoulders hitch. Turning her around, he pulled her against him. “It’s okay to cry. I got you.”

Her good arm wrapped around his waist, and she clung to his back as she finally let down her guard and cried. She pressed her forehead into his shoulder as her whole body seemed to shake with her sobs.

Every sob that tore out of her ripped a piece out of his chest. Even though he knew it was good for her to get it all out, he still hated to hear her cry.

He might not do relationships, but he could sure as hell offer comfort to a sweet woman who’d suffered a loss. And he swore right then, that he’d do everything in his power to make this right for her.

Chapter Nineteen

Maisie tried to control her emotions as she and Dodge walked back into the house, but the sight of the damaged bookmobile had torn her heart to shreds. She’d worked so hard on making it something special and now the whole thing seemed to be destroyed.

The scent of smoked meat permeated the air, and a Toby Keith song was playing through a speaker system set up all around the house. Duke was at the kitchen island, singing along with the lyrics as he sliced up a huge hunk of brisket. He wore a red and white apron tied around his waist that read, “Grillmaster: The Man, The Myth, The Legend”.

Chevy was setting the long kitchen table. He looked up and frowned when he saw her. “Hey, why the sad face? Did my brother just ruin the ending of a book for you?”

She swallowed as she shook her head and forced a smile. She’d thought she was doing okay, but she’d never been able to hide her emotions. Gram had always told her she wore every sentiment on her face. “No, Dodge has been amazing. It’s just tough seeing the damage to the bookmobile, and something Iworked so hard on. But I’m fine,” she told him, waving away his concerns.

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