Page 62 of Coming Home to Maverick

“Yeah, do it. Go ride. Get on this next rodeo circuit. They’d take you.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You’ve got your class at school. Gracie. You’re not coming on the road right now, I’d imagine.”

She breathed in and out twice before she answered. “You need to go without me.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“It does to me. And you’re right, I can’t leave right now. But you can. And I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere while you’re gone. We’ll come watch when we can.”

He shook his head. “Just like that.”

“What do you mean?”

“You can send me away like it means nothing to you? What about you’re not going anywhere? What about that?”

“Look, what do you want from me? I’ll do anything. You want me to follow you on your circuit, to leave everything and bring my daughter on the road? I will if you want.”

He searched her face. Then he shook his head. “I guess not. Not if you’re not excited about it.”

She didn’t know what else to say. He wanted to ride. She knew it. And she wasn’t gonna take it away from him. She wasn’t gonna be the reason he stayed behind and gave up his dream. Especially if it was gonna save the ranch. She was trying out a little bit of that trust she’d read in the Bible. This could go in God’s hands. It would work out.

“You’ve got to, Maverick. Follow your dream. Save the ranch. Go do what you’ve always wanted, and I’ll help around here.”

“You, what?”

“Sure, I will come be with your mama and fill in where I can.” He shook his head like he was gonna turn down her offer, but she saw a flicker of relief pass across his face, and that was enough for her. “Go.” She just hoped she’d survive without him and that he really would come back. She’d seen firsthand what the race to success could do to a person.

“I’ll be right here when you get back.”

As he looked up at the sky deep in thought, she noticed he didn’t promise tocomeback. He probably just didn’t think of it.

Chapter 18

All night, Maverick turned the options around in his brain. He’d have to talk to the brothers about selling. But maybe they wouldn’t have to sell. Maybe if they all did something for the ranch, it would be enough to keep it intact. The fair would help, he knew, but…

He read through the circuit offer again. His mother and Bailey and his brothers all thought he should go. At first, he had thought they were just being supportive of his dream, feeling bad he’d given it up. But now he wondered if they were right, that there was some wisdom in it. If it wasn’t just a selfish desire of his own, he could see himself trying to make it work. He could talk up Dawson Ranch everywhere he went, find some sponsors even for the ranch itself. He’d definitely make some connections and hopefully sell a lot of beef cattle in the process.

He’d just about talked himself into giving the guy a call and accepting a position on the team when he wanted to touch base with Bailey about it again. He didn’t know what more they could talk about. But seeing her again suddenly became so urgent he left everything unfinished on his desk, hopped in his truck, and hurried to her house.

He turned down her driveway to find a strange car in front. Maybe one of the neighbors had bought a new one. But an Audi? It just wasn’t the normal Willow Creek car. It had out-of-towner written all over it. He pulled to a stop under their large live oak. As he stepped out of the truck, he could hear Gracie laughing and playing in the backyard. He smiled. Then his heart clenched. He’d miss that girl. Leaving for nine months of the year with only a few breaks would be hard on him. She’d grow. She’d start kindergarten. She’d learn things. She’d probably be jumping ponies if her grandpa had anything to do with it. And Maverick would miss it all.

Should he consider her needs before his own? Before the ranch’s? She was the most important person in his and Bailey’s life. He hadn’t ever been a father, hadn’t ever cared for a child like this. And they weren’t married—Bailey had made it clear enough he wasn’t the girl’s father. But he couldn’t help the direction of his heart.

Going over things in his mind again, he realized how much he needed Bailey to help him make this decision.

As he rounded the house toward the backyard, he stopped and moved behind the huge flowering bushes. Gracie was laughing and squealing and then took a great running leap into a man’s arms. A man Maverick had never seen before. “Are you my uncle too?”

He strained his ears.

“Not quite your uncle.” He laughed. “But I want to be important to you, perhaps even family.”

Alarm reverberated through him.Daniel.

“Daniel, come inside for some lemonade,” Bailey called from the back porch. Maverick couldn’t see her, but her voice sounded light, carefree.

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