Page 77 of Grady

Friday morning, Grady entered the barn, saddled his horse, and rode out into the sunshine to head for the west pasture. The transmitter showed a section was down and he needed to get it fixed. He just hoped it wasn’t wolves that took it down.

Ever since the day they tried to catch him, he’d been antsy about being anywhere near them.

Nudging Onyx into a run, they tore through the field. As he arrived at the section of fence that was down, he glanced around. Damn, he hoped no wolves were around. Just because it was summer didn’t mean they wouldn’t attack if they felt threatened. Especially if they had pups with them.Wolves normally breed in February and March, and litters averaging about five pups are born inMay or early June. It’s not just the mother wolf that cares for the pups, the entire pack does, so it’s best to stay away from them.

Dismounting from the horse, he dropped the reins, removed his rifle from the sheath, took his tools from the saddlebag and repaired the fence, then mounted the horse and rode back to the barn. He didn’t see any wildlife which was fine with him, but he did see moose tracks, so that’s probably why it was down.

Grizzly bears were in the area too, but they mostly left people alone unless threatened.The bears were generally peaceful and intelligent animals that prefer to avoid humans.They are most likely to attack when provoked, surprised, or defendingtheir young.Female grizzlies are especially protective of their cubs.Spring and fall are times when grizzly bears may be more likely to be defensive because they are protecting their young or food sources. But the cubs stay with their mother for about eighteen months, so the mother was still very protective of her babies.

Grady had come upon them before, but if they were alone, they usually ran off. He knew those bears could reach thirty-five miles per hour, but a horse was faster. Grady never bothered them in any way.

With a ranch the size of The Triple C, there was an abundance of wildlife. Moose, bear, wolves, elk, and foxes. He’d seen them all, but as long as he didn’t bother them, they didn’t bother him. Except for the wolves and that’s because they don’t hibernate and take food where they can find it in the winter season.

As he got closer to the barn, he thought about Savannah and if she would ever talk to him again. He missed her and he had no one but himself to blame. Just as he told Maverick, he’d fucked up.

Was she even thinking about him at all? He hoped so. What he really hoped was that he’d run into her ex and lay him out. What a prick. It was bad enough what he put Savannah through, but then to try to tear them apart by lying to Grady and stealing her phone, made Grady clench his fists in anger. He never started a fight but this time he just might.

He rode Onyx into the barn, cooled him down, then led him outside and let him run through the south pasture. The other horses were out and he grinned as he watched them running around.

“Hey, how’s your head today?” Maverick asked him as he placed his arms on the rail of the fence.

“It’s better. Damn, I overdid it.”

Maverick chuckled. “Yeah, been there and I swore I’d neverdo it again.”

Grady grinned. “I was praying, God, if you let me get over this, I’ll never drink again.”

They laughed together because they both knew that even though they made that promise, they knew it was a lie.

“Have you talked to Vanna?”

“Not yet. I know I have to, but I don’t want her slamming the door in my face.”

“Women. Can’t live with ‘em and can’t live without ‘em.” Maverick grinned.

“I shouldn’t have gotten involved in the first place, but…” Grady shook his head.

“But you did. Vanna is great, Grady. You just need to get her back in your life. You had a moment of doubt. Everyone does over something in a relationship.”

“I know, but I messed up twice.”

“Hell, do you know how many times I’ve made Parker angry? You can’t count that high, and it was usually after something stupid, but when I had to, I went to Oregon to make things right. If I hadn’t, I’d doubt we’d be together. Sometimes you have to do what you must, even if it means begging.” Maverick shook his head. “I’d get on my knees for that woman and beg her to forgive me even if I didn’t know why she was angry.”

Grady chuckled. “My dad says my mom is always right even when she isn’t.”

“I’ve heard that before too. Happy wife, happy life.”

“I don’t like Savannah being angry with me, but she definitely has the right to be.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe how much I miss her.”

Maverick slapped him on the shoulder. “You’re in love, whether you admit it or not.”

Grady looked at him, then back at the horses. “I admit it, but I’m scared I blew it.”

“Grady, she loves you. She’ll get over it, but you need to apologize to her.”

“I just saw red when he answered her phone and tells me she doesn’t want to talk to me. I couldn’t understand, but it kept going through my head that heanswered her phone.Damn it. I should have known better.” He looked at Maverick again. “I’m new to this being in love thing. I know that’s not an excuse but it’s the only one I’ve got.”

“I know if it had been Parker, I would want to explain myself and apologize if I had any hope at all in getting her back. I told you, I’d get on my knees for her if I had to.”

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