Page 41 of Coming Home to Maverick

“Yeah, she came back. Thanks for dinner, Mama. It was real special.”

“Your papa would have liked it too.”

“Yeah, he would have.”

They turned to go into the house. As soon as they entered the front door, Decker waved an envelope at him.

“What’s this?”

“Something awesome. Since we’re all here, let’s talk about it.”

“Well, okay then.” He made his way into the living room. His other brothers were already in there.

“Does everyone but me know what’s going on?”

“We sure do.” Nash grinned.

Decker stood at the front of the room. “If you could please be seated. This next meeting of the Dawson family is now in session.”

Maverick sat by his mama, and he couldn’t tell if she knew what was going on.

“I have here an offer addressed to Maverick.”

Maverick held up his hand. “Well now, if it’s addressed to me…”

“Steady. I’ll give it to you in just a minute. But this offer is for a spot on a rodeo team, to ride the circuit—”

“What? Give that here.” Maverick stood and took it from him. After a quick perusal, he saw Decker wasn’t kidding. His old team wanted him back, no strings, no penalties. They just wanted him to ride bulls.

“You could do it, Maverick,” Nash said.

“Not with everyone else doing circuits of their own.”

“Well, we were thinking maybe we could take turns.”

Mama rested a hand on his arm. “And I could hire a manager.”

Maverick’s first reaction was to shake his head at that. No one but a Dawson had ever run the ranch, and he was pretty sure no one else could. But then he let the idea settle, and he recognized it had merit. Even if he didn’t ride the circuit, a manager might be a great idea.

“So this spring, you guys think you could take care of everything while I take off?”

“Believe it or not, we could.” Decker shook his head. “And every one of us thinks it’s time you got to do something you love, too.”

The guys all watched him, open, sincere, willing to give up a little bit of something of their own so he could have a circuit. He knew what it would cost them. If they stepped away when things were hot, sometimes they just couldn’t get back in. For those of them who didn’t have a record or a really winning season, they might not be able to get back on a team. Though sometimes just being a Dawson gave them a leg up.

“I don’t know.”

“We figure, by spring, you and Bailey might already be a thing, and she could go along with the little peanut.”

“You thought of that, did you?” He knew they meant well. He was grateful. Touched. But he couldn’t do it this year. “Look, guys…”

“No. Don’t say it. Just think about it. Stick the envelope on top of your desk and mull it over.” Nash stood. “And I’m gonna go hit the hay. G’night, brothers. Mama.”

“Good night,” they chorused.

And soon, Maverick and his mama were the only ones left sitting in their chairs, staring at a packet of papers.

“What do you think I should do, Mama?”

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