Page 72 of Relentless

Maeve’s somber expression was instantly replaced with a smile. “Hopefully tomorrow night if the weather holds.”

“Should I expect him to join us for morning coffee?” Oakleigh inquired, angling for a glimpse of what their new normal was about to look like.

“No,” Maeve replied, retrieving her mug once again and pulling it to her lips. “That’s our time.”

Her statement brought a lump of emotion to Oakleigh’s throat. After the harsh words with her mother, who had the incredible knack of making her feel insignificant, it was reassuring to be a priority to Maeve.

“Thanks, Maeve,” Oakleigh replied. “You must really miss him, though.”

Maeve’s gaze drifted back to the fireplace, giving a somber smile that traveled to the fine creases in the corners of her eyes.

“You have no idea.”

Chapter 21

Breakaway

Maeve was grateful for her aviator sunglasses as the rising sun reflected brightly off the glistening snow. She held the horses tightly by their halters while she waited for Oakeigh to join her for their morning cattle drive.

Despite the chores requiring Oakleigh to be up before dawn, the young woman still moved slowly in the morning.

Using her teeth to pull the glove off her fingers, Maeve retrieved her phone from the pocket of her snow pants. She felt her heart beat a little faster as she noticed a text from Dallas. The message was just a quick little blurb to remind her how much he missed her. Her thumb hovered over the screen as she considered the wealth of unspoken feelings she wanted to convey.

Interrupted by the front door opening and slamming shut with a loud bang, she marked the text with a heart emoji and slipped the phone back into her pocket.

“Well, it’s about time, Oak —” she declared. Glancing up, her eyes connected with someone she never expected to see that early in the morning. “Harper?”

Her sister carefully made her way down the slick porch steps, this time bundled up in the appropriate clothing for the winter weather.

“Where are we headed?” Harper asked, pushing her baggie beanie cap above her eyes with a gloved finger.

Oakleigh wasn’t far behind, distractedly making her way down the driveway. Her phone was tucked into the crook of her neck while she expertly balanced three travel mugs of coffee.

Shuffling her boots in the thick snow, Maeve considered.

“Harper, you sure you’re up for this?”

“Oakleigh said you were riding out today,” Harper replied, her eyes flicking to the tops of the trees through her designer sunglasses. “I need some fresh air,” she snapped. “Is that allowed?”

Maeve pulled her mug from Oakleigh’s fingers. She wondered if the young woman had intended to invite her mother along for what would undoubtedly be an entire day in the pasture.

Interpreting Maeve’s expression, Oakleigh shrugged and mouthed —

“Sorry.”

She whipped her attention back to her phonecall.

“I don’t know what to tell you, Audrey,” Oakleigh exclaimed into her phone, hopelessly accentuating every word with the mug of coffee in her hand. “No, I didn’t post — ”

She glanced up at Maeve with what could be perceived as a guilty expression, and promptly lowered her voice to a discreet whisper.

“Because I don’t have to, that’s why.”

Oakleigh pressed out an exasperated exhale.

“I’ve got duties at the ranch, and I can’t help the fact that you’re slammed,” she fumed. “Just do your job.”

She mashed her thumb down on her phone screen and shook her head. “Seriously, Maeve,” she complained. “This girl is killing me.”

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