Page 11 of Coming Home to Maverick

“I can’t remember such a thing, but if your mama says it’s true, then I believe her.”

At his kind words, Bailey felt everything in the world ease up a bit. “Thank you, Nash. Where you headed?”

“I was going to head toward home. But now I’m going to turn around and head back in with you ladies.”

“Oh, you don’t have to…”

“If I didn’t, Mama would put me on barn mucking duty. You know how she feels about things like this.”

“I do. The Dawson brothers are all about obligations.”

“Well now, I don’t know if our family policy deserves that bitter tone. It’s not like you and my brother don’t have a history or anything.” The way he saidhistoryand wiggled his hands in the air made her laugh.

“Oh, fine. Come on, then.”

They made their way to the entrance, and Bailey tried not to notice how everyone around them was taking an extra interest.

As soon as she stepped inside the fairgrounds, a rush of nostalgia made her smile. “Now, this is what I’ve been missing!”

“There you go!” Nash sauntered like every cowboy should. “Nothing like a county fair.”

“Any of you boys riding today?”

“You know we are. Me and Decker for sure.” He leaned closer. “And don’t tell now, but they’re trying to get Maverick back on a bull to do his signature move.”

“The move! I’d forgotten the move.” Everything about home was just the same. Except that it wasn’t. Maybe for an afternoon, she could forget her mistakes and the mess she’d made of her life and enjoy the fair with her daughter.

Gracie ran up to a small corral full of baby pigs. “Oh, Mama! Would Grandpa buy me a pig too?”

“She already knows who to ask! Smart girl.” Nash tipped his hat to her.

“Thanks. She really is special.”

Gracie stretched her hand through the fence to touch a piglet on the head and giggled.

Food trucks filled the air around them with delicious smells, smells that brought back memories of her mother’s quilting booth and pie tables. Memories of long glorious days with friends, searching every inch of the county fair park. And memories of Maverick and stolen kisses in the horse stalls.

“Might I get you two ladies a frozen lemonade?” Nash was all charm, all politeness, and Bailey had forgotten how nice it was to be around someone who worked to put you at ease.

Another tall and broad Dawson waved as he approached. “Nash! Who do we have here?” Decker’s twin, Dylan, was soon at his side, and Bailey was surrounded by Dawson testosterone.

She laughed. “Hey, guys! It’s great to see you all.”

Decker, Dylan, and Nash towered above her. Their broad shoulders and immense size were offset by the signature Dawson twinkle in their eyes. She was transported back to her high school days for a minute until a small hand tugged at her shirt. “Mama?” Gracie’s small voice sounded unsure.

“Oh, honey. I want you to meet some more friends.” She swung her up into her arms. “Remember Maverick?”

She nodded.

“Well, these are his brothers.”

“Oh.” She wiggled to be lowered to the ground so Bailey set her on her toes.

Nash got down on his knee. “You already know me. Isn’t that right?”

She nodded. “You’re the little one.”

The other guys snorted.

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