Page 8 of Rafe

Mounting Rocket again, Rafe gave a determined shove forward, and the duo trotted back toward the barn, their camaraderie evident in every stride.

Later that evening, with the oppressive heat lingering like a stubborn memory, Rafe sought relief in the cool water of his pool. He swam several laps, the cool embrace of the water a welcome antidote to the scorching day. As he swam toward the poolside steps, the distant rumble of thunder signaled that a refreshing rain might soon follow. Eager for the respite it promised, Rafe quickened his pace.

Climbing the steps, a grin spread across his face as he imagined Maggie’s surprised reaction upon catching him totally exposed. Never one to shy away from a woman, he relished the thought of flustering her for just a few precious minutes.

Grabbing a towel, he rubbed it over his damp hair and down his body. Entering his home, he was greeted by the sight of Booker, sprawling across the bed. With a swift, lighthearted jump, Booker jumped down as soon as Rafe stepped inside.

“Good thing you moved,” Rafe laughed as Booker’s bark filled the quiet room.

After quickly changing into sweatpants and a T-shirt, Rafe headed for the kitchen in search of something to eat. The day’s unyielding sun had drained his energy, leaving him weary but content, a reminder again of the relentless pace of life on the ranch, where every hour of daylight was a labor in the open.

Rafe sat at the counter, slowly savoring his sandwich while his thoughts drifted to Maggie. Her image had captivated him from the very first moment he laid eyes on her, but the gold band on her finger signaled that she was untouchable territory. He still couldn’t fathom why she had chosen to marry that jerk. In Rafe’s eyes, the man had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Every time Rafe looked at him, all he saw was a bully, and he had always despised bullies.

Rafe had put bullies in their place whenever they picked on others. In his view, there was no excuse for such behavior. Once Rafe stood up to the bullies on behalf of the other kids, the troublemakers typically left everyone alone. That was one of the reasons he loathed Junior. The other reason? Junior had married Maggie. Rafe wasn’t naive; he could sense that she wanted nothing to do with the man. Yet, whenever he broached the subject, Maggie would insist that everything was fine.

“That son of a bitch probably had her too terrified to say anything to anyone,” Rafe muttered under his breath.

After finishing the last bite of his sandwich, he cleaned up the kitchen, wiping down the counters and putting everything in its place. He then strolled into the living room, where he sank into the plush sofa and Booker jumped up beside him. Tomorrow was Sunday, and he longed for a day entirely to himself. Unless, of course, Maggie decided to stop by for a swim. A grin spread across Rafe’s face. Oh yeah, he could definitely go for that.

****

Monday morning, Maggie stepped into the shop with alingering thought, wondering where the entire weekend had vanished. It felt as if time had slipped away inside these very walls. Hadn’t she just been here not long ago? With a heavy, resigned sigh, she made her way toward the office, her footsteps echoing softly on the polished floor as she prepared to tuck her purse into the filing cabinet. Just then, she heard the front door opening.

“Maggie?” a familiar voice called out.

Maggie walked to the front of the store, where her eyes met a familiar scene: Vanna and her fiancée, Grady Henderson, standing there. A genuine smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“Hi, Grady. Hi, Vanna,” she greeted, her tone friendly.

“Maggie, how are you this morning?” Grady inquired; his voice filled with a genuine interest.

“It’s too early to tell,” she replied, a playful smirk on her face. “Check in with me later.”

Grady chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.” He then shifted his attention to Vanna. “I’ll see you later, sweetheart. Have a wonderful day.” With that, he pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss, adjusted his hat with a quick touch, nodded at Maggie with a respectful smile, and strode out the door.

Maggie’s smile lingered as she watched Vanna, whose eyes were fixed wistfully on his retreating figure. Turning toward her friend, Vanna’s voice softened with wonder.

“How is it possible to love someone so completely?”

Maggie’s gaze fell, reflective and sincere. “I don’t know. I’ve never experienced love in that overwhelming way. It’s obvious how deeply you love him, and he seems utterly captivated by you.”

Vanna’s face lit up with an affectionate glow. “I know, and that’s precisely what makes it so incredible. I know he loves me.”

“Absolutely,” Maggie agreed. “Never doubt that. I’d give anything to find someone who loves me as intensely as Gradyloves you.”

“Maybe it’s Rafe,” Vanna mused, her tone teasing yet thoughtful.

Maggie shook her head lightly, a small smile playing around her lips. “I highly doubt that. Rafe has never struck me as the settling-down type.”

Vanna laughed. “Have you forgotten how adamantly Grady was against the idea?”

“True, you’re right,” Maggie conceded with a soft sigh, “but in all the time I’ve known Rafe, he’s never made any move on me.”

“You were married, Maggie. Some men simply possess enough morals not to interfere with another man’s woman.”

“That’s true,” Maggie replied, her voice carrying both humor and regret. “Oh, did you happen to order that picture frame for Fred?”

“I did indeed,” Vanna confirmed with a nod. “It should arrive by tomorrow.”

---