Page 45 of Maverick

He looked at me with a serious face, “Only family has ever worked on this ranch and that’s the way it will stay.”

I nodded as we hopped back into the Ranger and headed toward Lilah’s house. As we pulled up to the barn, Colton and Knox came running down the porch, sippy cups in hand and Orion not too far behind them. They had little cowboy boots over their Carhartt overalls, Colton wearing a blue flannel and Knox wearing a green flannel.

I put the basket down on my seat and bent down as they tumbled into me. “How are you boys this morning?”

Knox held up his cup and grunted, “Milk good.”

Maverick bent down and picked both boys up in a big hug. He started to run toward the house with a boy on each hip. They bobbed up and down, laughing all the way to the porch.

I slowly walked behind them enjoying the scene before me. Maverick was so good with the boys. He would be a great father when he had kids of his own.Maybe to our kids?I shook my head at that thought and hurried inside.

Lilah was standing at the stove making breakfast and the boys were already in their little highchairs.

“Listen, Mav. He’s been so moody lately. He misses you. Please go and talk to him. I can’t take any more of this nonsense.”

Maverick sat down between the boys and groaned. “Lilah. He was the one who made me go on probation from the club. This is club business anyways, not for you to worry about.”

Lilah quickly turned around, a large knife in her hand, and pointed at Maverick. “Listen here, Silas. The President of your club is my husband. You are the Vice President and Goose is your enforcer. The club is my entire life. And when it starts to affect my life at home, it damn well is my business. So you will march down to that clubhouse today and talk to Striker or I will drag you down there myself. Are we clear?”

Maverick looked down sheepishly at the table, “Yes, ma'am.”

Lilah then turned to me and smiled. “Hey there, Willow! Sit down, breakfast is almost ready.”

I laughed as I grabbed a seat next to Colton. “Thanks, Lilah. Need help with anything?”

“Nope! Since Maverick is going down to the clubhouse today, do you want to go into town and have lunch with me and the boys?”

“That would be great! I need to grab some more canvases while we’re down there.”

Lilah came over the table with a big plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon. She turned back to the counter to grab a pitcher of orange juice and a bowl of fresh-cut fruit. She sat down next to me and started to pile food onto the boys’ plates.

“Eat up everybody!”

Maverick and I piled our plates full of food; we were starving after working hard on the ranch this morning.

After we finished eating, I helped Maverick load the dishwasher as Lilah cleaned up the boys. She took them out of their highchairs and placed them on the floor. Colton and Knox clapped and then ran off toward the playroom.

Lilah turned to Maverick and put her hand on her hip. “Time to go, Mav. Stop delaying and just get it over with.”

Maverick sighed as he pulled me into him. “I know, I know. I’ll call you later, babe. Be safe and keep an eye out please.” He gently took my face in his hands and pulled me in for a kiss.

As we pulled apart, I placed my hand on his chest, “I will don’t worry. You’ll be fine today.”

He smiled down at me then kissed my forehead. “You’re the best, Willow.” Maverick then walked over to Lilah and hugged and kissed her goodbye. “Thanks, baby sis. I owe you big time lately.”

As he walked toward the playroom, I could hear the boys scream and then laugh. A few seconds later, Maverick popped his head back into the kitchen, “See you, ladies, later. Call me if you need absolutely anything.”

Maverick walked out the door and Lilah turned to me, “Thank God! I thought I was going to have to listen to Striker moan and bitch the rest of my life!”

I burst out laughing as we grabbed our coffee and headed into the playroom to watch the boys.

“They’ll be fine. I know Mav has enjoyed his little vacation, but I know how important the club is to him. He told me yesterday how the ranch and the club are the only things he knows. That’s his whole life.” I sighed as I sat down on the couch and Lilah sat next to me.

Maverick was going to be fine. His life would go back to normal soon enough. But where did that leave me?

I didn’t belong in this life. His own brother hated me and I was causing a rift in the club. There was no way I was going to rip him away from the only life he knew.

But maybe I could stay? Plant my roots and be apart of something beautiful? Could I actually create a life here?

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