Page 66 of Coming Home to Maverick

Sitting astride Thunder brought things into perspective. He looked at what he knew. He wasn’t happy, but hewashelping the ranch. He already had two additional buyers for his beef cattle.

He missed Bailey. But she didn’t appear to miss him. He would likely beat his own record this year. And he didn’t even care.

As he took off over the miles of pastureland next to their practice arena, Thunder raced with a freedom Maverick could never feel. Maverick knew that what he thought would help him deal with his problems had only delayed his having to face them. But he had to see this through. He’d finish out the circuit, win his medals, earn more visibility for his ranch, and then possibly hand the lot of it over to Decker. He seemed the most inclined, perhaps the most interested.

The state fair was this weekend. He would be leaving for home any minute. And he wasn’t sure how he felt about seeing everyone. He wanted to see Bailey like he needed air to breathe, but he didn’t think he could handle her disinterested eyes or seeing Gracie with Daniel again. He didn’t want to be home if Bailey wasn’t part of it. He’d done that already.

But he had to go back. Like his dad said, he’d put on his boots, wear his best buckle, and face the worst life had to give with the nod of his hat.

When he rode back to the trailers, Jeremiah was there to meet him. “You headed to the fair?”

“Sure am. I’ll be announcing my circuit and team of course.”

Jeremiah waved his hand as though it didn’t matter. “Are you gonna go see your woman?”

“I don’t know if I have a woman. But she’ll be there.”

“Are you gonna make things right?” His no-nonsense frown gave Maverick pause.

“Well now, sometimes the man’s not the one who decides these things.”

Jeremiah shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. Plain and simple. It’s always the man who needs to make these things happen. If things aren’t right, can you think up a few things you could do to make them better?”

When expressed like that, Maverick felt some guilt tug at him. “Yes sir.”

“And do you think that doing even just those few things will help her know how you feel?”

“Yes sir.”

He nodded as though enough had been said.

And Maverick knew he was right. No matter what Bailey needed to do or not do, he, Maverick, had a long list of things he could do better. Maybe the fair was just the place to start doing them.

As long as Daniel wasn’t there.

He wasn’t going to marry the woman until the issues with Daniel were settled. If he was going to be involved in this duo, or possibly trio, he felt like he should have some sort of voice in it. And he wasn’t sure how happy he was about marrying into a trio that included Daniel.

But marriage or no, Maverick could make sure he didn’t contribute to the problem. And as he reviewed his behavior and thoughts, he knew he could improve.

The drive felt long, even though it was only about an hour to the fairgrounds from Mesquite. As he drove into Fair Park’s living grounds for the fair participants, he made his way to the Dawson Ranch group of trailers. He knew they were to be housed in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds and that everyone from his town would be near each other. He could house his horses and all his livestock in the stockyards or in their arena. He’d keep his horse with him in the horse trailer, but the cows, the pigs, and the other horses could all go in their own separate stalls in the barns.

He pulled closer. There was a fire already going at one spot, with a group of people gathered round. They were laughing. Someone had a guitar out. The closer he drove, the more familiar the group became until he recognized Decker and Dylan, Nash, and his mother. Gracie Faith came running around another trailer, and he held his breath until Bailey joined her, laughing and creating a stream of bubbles out behind her as she ran. She dipped a bubble wand again and waved it through the air. He watched, a sort of wistful desire clenching his stomach. So far, Daniel was nowhere to be seen.

He pulled in the rest of the way, the crunch of the gravel announcing his arrival.

Almost everyone in the group smiled, Gracie Faith’s being the sweetest of all. But Bailey’s face went blank.

He hopped out of his car. Gracie ran to him, and he laughed then swung her up into the air. “And how’s my most favorite pig charmer?”

“So good! And Nash is the most obedient pig ever.”

Nash snorted. And Maverick couldn’t help his own enjoyment. “I love the sound of that.”

“We are gonna win first prize! We washed him in milk and everything.”

“It’s Mama’s secret recipe for the most perfect pig bath.” Maverick grinned at Mama. “How are you?”

“Just fine. But it’s so good to see you, son.”

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