Page 30 of Overdue for a Cowboy

“And we weren’t sure if you could have wine or not,” Elizabeth said, walking into the kitchen and setting the pizza and the bottle on the island. “So, if you’re on pain meds, you can save it for another time.” She turned to give Maisie a hug, exclaiming over her black eye and sprained wrist.

“I’m fine, really,” Maisie said into her shoulder as she hugged Elizabeth back with her good arm. “But I’m the one who should be bringing you pizza and alcohol.”

“Whatever for?” Elizabeth said, letting her go then fussing over her sling, straightening the fabric and carefully tucking in the strap.

“For saving my books.” Maisie’s voice was choked with emotion. “I don’t care about my stupid wrist, or even my dumb car. I’m just so thankful you and Ford took the trouble to rescue the books from the bookmobile.”

“It was no trouble,” Ford said.

“We were happy to do it,” Elizabeth told her. “Goodness knows, you helped me so much with the renovations on the farmhouse and creating my amazing library nook, it was the least we could do. I’m just so sorry for the damage to the bookmobile.”

Maisie winced. “How bad is it?”

Dodge was standing behind Maisie and shook his head at Elizabeth, trying to give her a signal to not divulge the level of the damage. He hadn’t seen the full extent of it himself, but Chevy had texted him some pictures, and he knew it wasn’t good.

“Now don’t worry,” Ford said in hisbigbrother,everything’s going to be all rightvoice. “I’m sure it can all be repaired. Like Gramps always says, there’s nothin’ a little bailing wire and some time won’t fix.”

“But we don’thavetime,” Maisie said, a tremble in her voice as she explained to them about the bookmobile contest. “There’sa substantial grant on the line, and that money could mean so much to our library and the bookmobile program.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Dodge said gently as he laid a comforting hand on Maisie’s shoulder, the gesture so automatic and natural that it took him a little by surprise. Before this weekend, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d offered a woman a comforting touch. Chevy was the hugger. His brother was always draping his arm around someone’s shoulder, drawing them in for a hug, or offering out handshakes and high-fives.

He lived in a household of men. Sometimes they didn’t even speak until half the morning had gone by, communicating in a series of grunts and gestures like ranching neanderthals. His grandmother had been the talker. Even though she’d been gone for years, there were still some days he walked into the kitchen expecting to hear her laughter and her warm call of ‘good morning’.

Not that he and his grandfather and brothers didn’t ever talk. There was always conversation around the table and in the barn about the weather and the animals and the crops. Chevy had their grandma’s gift for gab, and he was always cracking them up with one story or another. It had been quieter since Ford had moved into the house next door with Elizabeth. He still came over every day to help with the ranch, but the house felt different without him.

It meant a lot that both of his brothers had stopped by Maisie’s with an offer of help. Their presence had a grounding effect on him—the three men had always depended on each other. Their bond had been forged, not just by brotherhood, but by the fact thatbothof their parents had abandoned them. They would do anything for each other.

His brothers and his grandfather were the only ones he trusted to not turn their back on him and to never leave. Every other woman in his life had abandoned him—his mother, his grandmother, Julie. His mom had left by choice, the other two were taken from him, but that was the reason he didn’t let himself get involved with women. They never stayed. And every time he’d let himself love one of them—they’d ripped his heart out when they’d left him behind.

He dropped his hand from Maisie’s shoulder, took a step back, and stuffed his hands in his front pockets to keep them from reaching for her again.

Moose had been wiggling around, begging for attention from both Ford and Elizabeth, but now he ran to the door and then back to Dodge again.

“I think Moose needs to go out. Okay if I take him in the backyard for a few?” he asked Maisie.

“Of course,” she answered.

They’d let him out in the yard several times, but somehow with Ford and Elizabeth there, he felt the need to ask.

“I’ll come with you,” Ford said, grabbing a couple of beers from the carton and following him outside. He pulled a multi-tool from his pocket to pop the tops then passed one to Dodge as they watched the dog run around the yard. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Ford raised an eyebrow in that way older brothers do when they know their younger brothers aren’t telling them the truth.

Dodge shrugged. “I’m fine. Just worried about Maisie. She’s acting like it’s no big deal, but she got pretty banged up in the accident, and she’s really worried about the trailer.”

“That explains why you didn’t want me to tell her how bad it looks.”

Dodge nodded. “Chevy sent me pictures, so I’ve seen some of the damage, but I can’t tell how bad it really is.”

“It’s pretty messed up. Not that it can’t be fixed. But I’m not sure it can all be repaired and fixed back up in only a few weeks.”

“Yeah, but you heard her. She only has a few weeks until the competition. Ithas tobe fixed by then.”

“Okay, well then we can all pitch in and help get it done.” His brother narrowed his eyes as he studied him. “Are you sure you’re all right? You seem pretty tense.”

He rolled his shoulders and took a sip of beer, trying to loosen the tension his brother saw there. “I’m good. It’s Maisie I’m worried about.” He let out a sigh. “But I guess you know I’m not used to worryin’ about a woman.”

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