Page 7 of Coming Home to Maverick

Thunder came running toward him, and he swung his leg up, turning the horse to take off down his side of the ridge.

But just then, Bailey soared over the top, coming down right on top of him. Midair, she screamed, her eyes wide.

Thunder bucked and kicked before Maverick could get him to move out of the way. Bailey pivoted and landed so close he felt her. And then Thunder burst forward, taking him far away from the ridge and Bailey. Maverick considered letting him run. Thunder’s startled speed would be enough to carry him away down the valley and back home, but that would be cowardly and ridiculous. Her horse whinnied. With years of Dawson training behind him, he pivoted and returned to her side.

Her horse hobbled. She jumped off and reached for his ankles. “Whoa, boy.” Her soft, husky voice shivered through Maverick. And his reaction to her irritated him. It reminded him of all the reasons why she had no business being back in his life. But if he didn’t intervene, she was gonna get herself knocked over by her injured horse…or kicked in the head.

“Stop.” He walked forward, approaching the horse slowly. The horse reached for a friendly nuzzle into Maverick’s chest. He rubbed him on the forehead, whispering calming sounds. After a moment, when he knew the horse was calm, he nodded. “Now, let’s take a look at you.”

“I already did that. It’s a sprain.”

“Did you go to veterinary school while you were gone? ’Cause last I checked, you were not the expert here.”

She huffed. “You don’t have to be an expert to spot a sprained ankle.”

He walked around the horse until he was standing over Bailey while she crouched down by the horse’s feet. He spoke to the top of her head. “Could you move around front and talk to him while I take a look?”

Their eyes met, and hers widened before she looked away. Then she nodded.

He patted the horse’s side, letting him know he was down there, and then gingerly felt along the bones and tendons and muscles. His flank shivered in pain when Maverick touched a soft spot. Maverick stood, irritated Bailey was right. “We’ll have to walk him back.”

She folded her arms across her chest, her eyes fiery with challenge—he used to love when she looked at him like that. Sometimes he’d tease her relentlessly just to see her want to lay into him. He looked away, the memory too pleasant for his mood.

“Come on.” He reached for Thunder’s lead and started walking back toward the ridge. Before he descended toward her family’s house, he looked back over his shoulder. “You coming?”

“Just like that?”

“Just like what?”

“You think you can step in to help and be back in my life just like that?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t say anything about wanting to be back in your life.”

Her hurt was so obvious he regretted his words, but it was only the truth. He’d learned his lesson with her and suffered for years because of it.

“I don’t need you to walk me home. We’re not fifteen.”

“Well, I can’t let you go alone. You’re gonna need some help if he turns his ankle on a rock or something.”

She held up her phone. “I’ve got a phone.”

“And what would your parents say if they knew I just let you go by yourself?”

“So this is for them?”

“It’s what nice people do when someone needs help. Or have you been gone from Willow Creek too long to remember?”

“I guess so.” She led her horse carefully and proceeded to ignore him.

He walked along, kicking up dirt as he went. The area was dryer than usual, with no rain for almost a full season. It had been a strain on the ranch, and their hay crop had suffered. None of which she would know since she hadn’t bothered to reach out even once.

The further they went, the angrier he became. And all the questions, the years of waiting, the wishing for a chance to simply talk to her again was catching up to him. Before they’d walked halfway to her house, he was biting his tongue to keep his frustration from flowing out of him. So much snark rose to the surface he surprised even himself.Wouldn’t have hurt you to text once in a while. Or did you lose your phone for five years?

Then he heard a sniff.

She was crying.

His anger melted. No way was he gonna let go of years of pain, but crying was too much. “What’s the matter?”

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