Page 63 of Coming Home to Maverick

Bailey hadn’t said anything about Daniel coming into town. And yet here he was, and things were looking cozy.

But Maverick was having none of it. Bailey couldn’t go through with it. If she was even thinking about letting that slug of a human back into her or Gracie’s life, Maverick would have words with her. He stomped back around to the front yard and up the steps. He lifted his hand to knock just as Bailey walked by. Her eyes widened. She looked behind her and then hurried to the door. She stepped out onto the front porch and closed the big wooden door behind her.

“Trying to hide something?” Maverick’s voice sounded as suspicious as he felt.

She frowned and put her hands on her hips. “So you saw him.”

“Of course.”

“Well, now’s not a good time to just show up, you must know that.”

“I think it’s a perfect time. Someone’s gotta show you the difference between a real man and that lying weasel of a human.” She could not actually be considering involving Daniel in her life.

“And you think that’s gonna solve something?”

“Well, yeah.”

“He’s her father.”

The hurt he felt at her words cut him super close, but he shook his head. “No, he’s not.”

She sighed. “Don’t you think I feel the same way? Don’t you think I know what’s going on in your head? But I couldn’t tell him not to see her. Could you have?”

He thought of a whole stream of things he could tell this guy while his fist connected with his face. But as he saw the pain in Bailey’s expression, he knew he had to take a different stance. “So this is what you want?”

She nodded. But when he turned away, she said, “Wait, what do you mean ‘what I want?’”

Fear barreled through him. He couldn’t compete with Daniel, not for something so precious, not when he’d already lost once to the creep. “No, I hear you. I wish you guys every happiness trying to figure all this out.” He made up his mind. He was out. Bailey needed time to figure out the whole Daniel thing, and Maverick already knew he was not a good addition to that party.

“Wait, no. Where are you going?”

“I came to tell you I’m leaving tomorrow. To get ready to ride the circuit. Coach wants me practicing, getting in shape, getting to know the guys.”

Bailey nodded, her face cold and unreadable.

“So, bye.”

“Just like that?”

He nodded and indicated what she had in the house. “Just like that.”

She watched him get into his truck and pull away. When he checked his mirror before turning down the road, she was still on the porch.

His phone dinged. Bailey.What about the fair?

I’ll be back for the fair.

Then he tossed his phone onto the seat beside him. Leaving made him sick. But if he left, maybe Bailey could figure her whole mess out. If he left, he could help Dawson Ranch. Everyone seemed to think it best that he leave, even Nash. And Bailey basically told him he’s not welcome while she’s trying to figure out Daniel’s place in their lives. Everyone wanted him to go.

So he did. He went home, packed his duffel, grabbed his rodeo gear, put his horse in the trailer, and took off for Mesquite, where he’d hole up and work out to get ready for the circuit.

He sent a text off to his brothers to let them know he was leaving.We can work things out long distance. Everyone do what we talked about last week. And listen to Mama. We gotta find ways to earn more money for the ranch.

Nobody answered yet. None of them were big texters. But they’d check in later, and he’d hear what they thought then.

Driving away from Dawson Ranch felt bittersweet. But it was nice to let the problems rest for a time. Was it hard to leave when he knew his heart resided in those hills? So hard.

He didn’t know if he could actually get on the freeway going east. But he did. And he survived.

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