Page 21 of Waiting for the Rancher
She’d gotten the brotherly lectures from him before and knew he was just trying to keep her safe the way her own brothers would. But at times, especially after the strangely charged interactions with him lately, she was more than ready to stop being like a sister.
She tugged her arm free with more force than usual and narrowed her eyes. “I know it’s hard to believe that I’m all grown up now, but I’m not your little sister anymore.”
Instead of grinning and brushing off her comment with banter, Maverick moved closer so that he was boxing her in.
He was so near that she fumbled backward, bumping into the nearest stall door and nearly spilling her coffee.
With an intensity in his expression that she’d never seen before, he braced his arms on either side of her, giving her no space to sidle away from him.
She tilted her head back enough that she could watch his face and attempt to discover what he was thinking and feeling, because clearly her declaration about not being his little sister had triggered something within him.
He let his gaze drift almost languidly around her face, starting with her eyes, then moving to her cheeks, her nose, and then her chin. She had the embarrassing notion that he mightdrop his gaze lower, but he didn’t. He shifted it to her hair, raised his hand, and gently touched a strand.
She couldn’t do anything but hold her breath. What was he doing?
A second later, he pulled out a tiny piece of hay, then flicked it away.
Her heart had stopped working at some point, although she wasn’t sure when. And now she could hardly think as she waited for Maverick to say something.
The blue of his eyes at so close a range was almost too powerful, too mesmerizing, making her knees weak and wobbly. If she hadn’t been holding her coffee, she would have grabbed a fistful of his coat and clung to him.
He shifted his hand down and brushed his knuckles across her cheek, just as he had only moments ago when she’d been waking up. He’d never been so familiar with her before. What did it mean?
“I realize you’re all grown up, angel.” His tone was low, almost husky. “It’s hard to miss.”
He’d called herangelagain, and her insides were melting faster than lard in an iron skillet.
“And let’s get one thing real straight. I already got two sisters and don’t need another one.” He drew a final line down her cheek to her chin, the soft touch making her body quiver with a need she couldn’t explain. He stood there a moment longer, almost as if he was debating something. Then he stepped back.
She had the very strange but real urge to launch herself against him and was grateful for the cup of coffee which kept her planted to the stall door. She guessed throwing herself on Maverick would have counted as slightly deranged and lovesick, but with every passing moment, she couldn’t keep from feeling as though something had shifted between them—that theirrelationship was changing, that he was interested in her in a way he’d never shown before.
Or was she only imagining it all?
8
Over the course of the day, Hazel was too busy to think much more about the changes that seemed to be happening with Maverick. She had only a few moments to spare when she wasn’t focused on getting the horses into stalls and out of the storm, or working with Tiny and the new foal. Even in those quiet breaks, she forced herself not to drag back out the interactions she’d had with Maverick over the past week and analyze each one.
She could admit she was afraid that dwelling on him too much would only stir up her longings all the more, just as it had done in the past. There had been many times over the years when she’d misinterpreted something he’d said or done, believing it to mean he was starting to like her only to have him ignore her for weeks after that.
After too many disappointments to count, she’d learned her lesson. Never assume Maverick meant anything beyond friendship. He was simply a friendly and nice fellow to every woman he met. And she’d never be anyone special to him, other than his best friend’s sister.
By late afternoon, thankfully, the cattle were herded to safety in the pasture closest to the foothills where the tall lodgepole pines and other shrubs provided some covering for them. Maverick and the handful of ranch hands who worked for High C Ranch had separated out the cows and calves, driving them near the outbuildings for even more protection.
With at least another foot of snow having fallen throughout the day and the wind causing drifts, Hazel wasn’t surprisedwhen Alonzo didn’t come after her. She hadn’t expected him to be able to make it—had hoped he wouldn’t try. Besides, she figured he’d be busy trying to help Sterling in any way he could. Although she was anxious to know how everyone was doing back home and whether they’d been able to save the cattle, all she could do was pray.
When darkness fell, Clarabelle was the one to finally pull her inside and convince her to stay the night in a real bed and not the barn. Hazel was too tired to resist, and let the young woman help her change into warm, dry clothing and then pamper her with a warm meal of soup and biscuits. With the snow having mostly stopped, it hadn’t been long before Maverick joined them at the table, satisfied that he’d done everything he could for the livestock.
They lingered over the meal. Then afterward, Hazel went into Mrs. Oakley’s bedroom to update her on the new foal and assure her that all the horses were well taken care of during the storm.
A short while later, Maverick, in fresh and dry clothing, pulled up a chair at his mother’s bedside. Mrs. Oakley sat among the mounds of pillows, her robust body now frail and wasting away. Her once blond-red hair had turned gray, and her cheeks were sunken. But she beamed at them both, her thin face radiating peace.
“Your pa taught you well, Mav,” she said as Maverick finished telling her about all the work they’d done to protect the livestock. “I have no doubt the ranch will prosper under your leadership, especially with Hazel’s help.”
In his chair beside the bed, Maverick was resting his elbows on his knees while he gently held his ma’s hand in his. He gazed at her tenderly. “I don’t know what I’d do without Hazel.”
Mrs. Oakley nodded. “You’re a good team.”
Hazel, in the chair beside Maverick, smiled at Mrs. Oakley but couldn’t keep from wondering if the dear woman hadthe wrong idea about her and Maverick being a couple. Hazel opened her mouth to clarify but then decided that if the assumption made Mrs. Oakley happy, then that’s all that mattered.
