Page 34 of Steadfast

Crew gave her a broad smile, throwing his thumb at Sawyer. “He’s free.”

Oakleigh offered him a deep eye roll.

“Sawyer might be free, but he comes at a cost that few rational women are willing to pay,” Oakleigh said through gritted teeth, “the interest is too high, my friend.”

“Aw, c’mon. He’s not so bad.” Crew grinned, revealing it was the exact reaction he had been hoping for.

Oakleigh expected Maeve to chime in with her usual witty, playful comeback, yet it simply never came. Maeve stayed noticeably quiet, her arms folded tightly across her chest.

“If we’re done with the antics, it’s time to get back to business,” Maeve said, drawing them back to the matter at hand. “We need a plan.”

Oakleigh tugged on Mia’s arm. “That means it’s time for us to go.” Giving Crew one last squeeze around the middle, he sent her another charming smile and a wink that would cause even the hardest of hearts to melt into a puddle.

Sawyer’s provoking voice echoed behind them, accompanied by a glare. “If you ask me, she doesn’t need to be out here at all.”

“Sawyer, let me tell you something,” Maeve answered sternly, not pulling any punches that day with her son. “Oakleigh does a lot around here and is welcome.”

“I second that,” Crew said, stepping up to Oakleigh’s defense.

Sawyer shook his head and began to pace. “We got the biggest competition to date in less than two weeks. Crew’s got to be focused on riding, the ranch hands have to deal with getting Big Slim loaded and transported, and we’re debuting Ferdinand over there who—I’m sorry to say it, Mom.” Sawyer grasped for the right words. “He’s going to be a pretty big disappointment.” He put his hands on his hips. “We ain’t got time for Oakleigh and herinfluencing.”

Oakleigh knew a familiar argument on her behalf was about to unfold. Before that could happen, she dragged Mia to the edge of the arena. They stepped through the fence rails and headed back toward the ranch house.

Oakleigh gave Mia a look, “I told you, Sawyer’s super grumpy.”

Mia bit her lip, and with a glance over her shoulder, she eyed him up and down. “With as good as he looks in those Wranglers, he can be grumpy around me any day.”

Oakleigh couldn’t help but cringe.

They made their way across the uneven grass of the pasture, watching the ground to avoid any tripping hazards.

“Maeve seemed,” Mia searched for the right words, “different today.”

“Something feels off,” Oakleigh admitted. “Maybe it’s this thing with the bull.” Even as she said it, she was unconvinced that was the real issue. She had watched Maeve firmly hold her ground in the competitive industry without batting an eye. There was something that she just couldn’t quite pinpoint, but it felt like more than just ranch business.

“That was some argument, huh?” Mia observed, glancing at her best friend as though she were gauging her reaction.

“It happens all the time,” Oakleigh shrugged, yet she couldn’t hide the defeat that crept into her voice.

“Oaks,” Mia said as she put a comforting arm around her. “Thank you for ruining my outfit today with these amazingly hideous boots.”

Oakleigh gave her best friend a tight squeeze as a wide grin radiated across her cheeks. She knew that if Mia chose to stay long enough, there would be more unsightly clothing in her near future.

“Let’s get ready for church.”

Chapter 12

Locking Horns

Oakleigh’s casual attire for church wasn’t much different from the outfit she had worn that day in the pasture. She pulled on a hoodie, a fresh pair of jeans, and a pair of well worn tennis shoes. Tying her hair into a tight ponytail, she washed her face and applied her makeup. She peppered on a dash of highlighter down the bridge of her nose and took one last check in the mirror before calling her look complete.

Shedidn’tfeel good about it.

Mia was reclining on the floor of Oakleigh’s bedroom, leaning back against the bed. She was picking a bit of dust off her exquisite black jumpsuit, with her ankles crossed in front of her, accentuating her elegant black heels. When she eventually glanced up from her phone screen, she didn’t bother to hide the touch of dismay when she locked eyes on Oakleigh’s outfit.

“Do you ever wear normal clothes anymore?” Mia asked with a grimace she couldn’t downplay even if she tried.

Oakleigh sucked in a breath and pressed out a short exhale. It was time for her to break the news that would probably be jarring to her fashionable best friend.

---