Page 59 of Want You Back

“Still doing fine?” Aunt Georgia’s voice wasn’t unkind, and she came to place a hand on my back. “You know loss too, Colt. This has to be bringing up all sorts of feelings. Probably why you keep that heart of yours on lockdown.”

“I don’t…” I trailed off in favor of making a frustrated noise. “You’re one to talk.”

“You mean because I never married?” Aunt Georgia might as well have poked me in the back with a barbeque skewer for all the bite her words had. She was the nicest person I knew, and also, not someone to cross. “Maybe I was too busy helping raise my nieces and nephews.”

“Point taken.” I turned away from the faucet so she could see my remorse. “Sorry?—”

“No, don’t apologize.” She waved for me to get back to fixing the sink. “You’re right. I keep my heart locked up every bit as tightly as yours. After all, I spent decades pining for my best friend.”

I dropped the wrench into the sink with a clatter. “You and Miss Minnie were a thing?”

“No, because I kept my mouth shut.” Aunt Georgia took on a mournful tone. “Didn’t want to ruin a friendship or shock the town. Fear is a terrible thing.”

“I’m sorry. I know you miss her.” Miss Minnie had run the Lovelorn Press right up until she passed a few years back from a brief illness. The whole town had been devastated, none more so than my aunt.

“I do miss her. More than I can ever express.” She stepped forward to lay a hand on my shoulder. “And all I’m going to say to you is don’t live life with one eye on your rearview, Sheriff.”

Aunt Georgia’s words echoed in my brain long after I fixed the sink and gathered the girls to head to the ranch. Was I holding back from Maverick? I didn’t trust him to stay, but how much of that belief was self-preservation? Going all-in only to lose him to bright lights and bigger dreams down the road would hurt on a level on par with only a few other deep losses in my life. Wasn’t it understandable to want to avoid that?

At the ranch, Hannah wanted to change clothes before riding horses, so we all trooped into the main ranch house. Without Faith or Maverick, the place seemed eerily quiet, but most striking were the many changes since I’d last been in the house some weeks prior. In the kitchen and family room area, colorful throw pillows and linens livened up the space, along with some modern Western-themed wall art.

The dining area and what had been the formal living room were even more transformed. The parlor had been dark and dreary, a place to avoid. Now, the room was bright and airy, the heavy drapery and dark walls replaced with floaty curtains and white paint. Live plants and lighter furnishings helped complete the look. The dining room still featured all the original woodwork and built-ins, but Maverick had managed to tone down the stiffness of the room with colorful chair cushions, new light fixtures, and brighter wall art.

“Wow.” I whistled low. “The place looks…different.”

“Yeah.” Turning back at the base of the stairs, Hannah shrugged. “Uncle Maverick’s been busy all summer. I helped.”

“I see.” I gave another appreciative look around. “You did good.”

Hannah went up to change, leaving Willow on her phone on the couch and me with more thinking to do. I’d known Maverick was famous for hotel renovations and flipping dated establishments, but I hadn’t seen firsthand evidence of his talents before. He was damn good at using some paint and updated decor to give a completely new vibe to a space. Could I really expect him to give up that work and be happy as a rancher? On the other hand, the changes signaled a sort of moving on from the past, letting go of old grudges. I had no doubt he would carry the pain of losing his mother and brother and of his father’s treatment for life, but this sort of processing was healthy. If Maverick could move on, why couldn’t I?

“I’m ready to ride!” Hannah came charging back downstairs, stoic expression in place. “Any news from Uncle Maverick?”

“No.” I checked my phone again. Nothing. My back tensed, more dread gathering by the hour.

At the barn, Kat and I helped the girls saddle up before turning them loose in the arena.

“Do you think Maverick will stay on if Faith passes?” Kat asked in a low whisper as the girls circled the arena on their horses. “I’ve had a couple of calls asking if I might be looking for other work. Spread outside of Durango wants me to interview for foreman, not just barn manager or horseback instructor. I like it here though. I’d miss working with Willow especially.”

“I don’t know what Maverick will do.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I do know he wants to make a go of ranching for Hannah’s sake.”

“Want and can are two very different things.” Her tone was somber.

“Maverick can do anything he sets his mind to.” My loyalty was immediate. Was it really that simple? Let Maverick do the thing he said he wanted to do?I want you to stay.Maybe I was finally ready to say the words. My jaw set, neck tightening. “I’m not going to tell you what to do about job hunting, but I’m always going to bet on Maverick.”

“Good.”

I pivoted to discover a weary and rumpled Maverick behind me. He looked like he’d been through an apocalypse, right down to the half-tucked shirt, untied sneaker, and what looked to be a coffee stain on his pocket.

“Maverick.” I reached for him, Kat’s presence notwithstanding. “You’re back.”

Chapter34

Maverick

“You’re back.”Colt pulled me into a tight hug, which was a bad, bad idea because I was seconds away from crumpling like a tissue as it was. Not particularly caring who was nearby, I held him tightly because the alternative was to hit the dusty barn floor outside the riding arena.

“Uncle Maverick.” Hannah had been on Magnolia when I arrived, but she’d left the horse with Kat to dash to my side, joining in the hug. Colt stepped back, but Hannah continued to cling to me, gazing upward with big, liquid eyes. “How is Mom? You can tell me the truth.”

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