Page 55 of Steadfast

“Geez, fine,” she said, finally giving in to the pressure. “Now I remember why we never invited you to anything.”

“Like I would have gone to your lame parties anyway?” Paisley fired back with a smug expression.

Oakleigh stepped in, her voice full of aggravation. “Can’t you see she’s having like the worst day ever? Stop being mean to her, Paisley.”

“Right, I forgot,” Paisley said, rolling her eyes. “That’s your job.”

“Oooh, I like this one.” Sawyer chuckled, looking thoroughly entertained as he took a large bite of his sandwich, “Can we swap Oakleigh out for her?”

Maeve could see Oakleigh flush red with anger. The terrible weather, mixed with the harsh physical labor, was a cocktail for disaster. Oakleigh was already past her limit with Sawyer’s snark. Maeve knew what was next as Oakleigh prepared to toss what was now lukewarm coffee in Sawyer’s face—which, for the record, had only been mildly entertaining the first time she had done it.

Maeve threw her arms up between them, “Stop it, you two.”

Scanning the meager progress that had been made on the barrier wall, her frail hopes that they would have time to secure the house that day were fleeting. The rain was coming down in larger drops around them. Their jackets were waterlogged, and the hems of their pants were collecting water. She couldn’t deny the sullen, miserable expressions on each of their faces.

“Crew, the ground’s getting real slick. I can’t have you injured before Nationals,” she announced, seeing each perk up as she conceded. “Let’s wrap it up for the day, Sawyer. Grab your tools.”

It was apparent that they were each restraining their joyful celebration on her behalf, but she couldn’t help notice even Sawyer looked relieved. Despite their complaining, Abel would have never relented, not with the property so vulnerable to the weather. However, she was on her own now andhad to rely on her instincts, even if they warred fiercely against her better judgment.

“In the meantime, keep every bull out of this pasture, you hear me?” she firmly instructed, pointing at the partially finished wall for emphasis. They couldn’t afford to lose any of their investments in the ravine below. She bristled at the thought of Lil’ Slim being swept away by a flash flood.

Sawyer hollered after her as she headed back to her truck.

“Hey, Mom, do me a favor and get these girls outta here,” he sneered. “They’re just gettin’ in the way.”

Shooting him daggers with her eyes, Oakleigh snapped back, “You know, I thought we were actually getting along for a minute there. I was wrong. You’re just the same old jerk.”

Oakleigh crossed her arms as though she was waiting for Mia and Paisley to jump to her defense, yet they simply sat there on the sandpile and watched the scene unfold.

Crew stepped between the two with futile hopes of calming them down.

“C’mon, guys.”

Sawyer swiped Crew’s hand away and stepped into Oakleigh’s space as he continued his tirade. “You heard me,little girl,” he raised his voice and pointed toward the ranch house. “Go home. Your yoga pants are waiting. They’re soft, just like you.”

With the escalating weather, the pressure of her responsibilities, and the constant drip of bickering, Maeve had already reached her limit. Something in Sawyer’s antagonistic toneand the familiar insult made her turn on her heels. She had that look in her eyes that the family knew very well as a sign that they had crossed her boundaries.

“Sawyer, that’s enough!” She heard herself shouting but was too upset now to change course. “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times, you speak to Oakleigh with some respect.” Now that it was all out on the table, she might as well bring up the one thing that had triggered her the most. “And I betterneverhear you refer to her aslittle girl.” She turned back and trudged a few steps through the rain towards the truck.

Sawyer looked away shamefaced yet still managed to mumble under his breath. “Well, ya could have fooled me.”

Unfortunately for him, the wind carried his disrespectful tone straight to his mother’s ears.

Maeve would look back on this moment and contemplate if she had made her decision on logic or if she had allowed her temper to take the wheel. Her reasons behind it mattered very little as she threw her arm around Oakleigh’s shoulders and pulled her into a bold announcement to the group.

“I’ve decided to go to Nationals next weekend,” she declared. “Oakleigh’s in charge.”

“Wha—What?” Oakleigh’s eyes went wide as she struggled to process Maeve’s words.

Sawyer’s face scrunched into disgust. “You can’t be serious.” He flung his arms out wide as his agitation boiled over. “Ifshe’sleft in charge, there won’t be nothin’ left to come home to!”

From her expression, even Oakleigh wasn’t convinced that he was wrong.

The firmness in Maeve’s tone was final. She was set in her decision.

It was quiet in the truck as Maeve drove the muddy, exhausted young women back to the ranch house that afternoon.

Mia finally broke the silence as they bounced across the dirt road. “You know, I think Sawyer was just really tired.”

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