Coming Home to Maverick Read online

  She pushed his shoulder, and he rolled to the side so she could sit up beside him. “Did we miss the moon?”

  “Have we ever caught it?”

  “No way.” She ran a hand down his arm. “Hey, thanks for all this. For not hating me.”

  “I can’t hate you. Even when I wanted to hate you, I couldn’t.”

  She nodded.

  “Hey, Maaaav!” Nash’s loud call made them both snort.

  “What!” Maverick called down.

  “I’ve got a little princess here who wants to see the magic moon with her mama.”

  “Gracie, are you down there?”

  “Yeah! Mama, is there a moon up there with you?”

  She shook her head, and she and Maverick crawled to the end of the platform and looked down.

  Nash tipped his hat. “I see Bailey there is sufficiently mussed up. Nice work.”

  “What!” Bailey patted her hair and then gave up. “Anyway…”

  Maverick called down, “There’s no moon up here. We missed it.”

  Nash snorted.

  “But how about we come down and I show you what we’re gonna be doing with your new baby pig.”

  Her mouth opened so wide Bailey was sure it might never close. “My new pig! Mama! Do I get a new baby pig?”

  “You sure do, honey. Maverick said he’s gonna help you learn to be a pig boss.”

  Maverick grimaced. “Except that’s not what we call it. You’re gonna train your own pig and enter it in the fair.”

  She took off running around the grassy space behind the barn, shouting.

  “Thanks, Nash.” Bailey turned to climb down the ladder.

  “I’m just happy to see some of this going on. We’re all behind you two no matter what.”

  When she got to the bottom, she turned and wrapped her arms around a surprised Nash. “Thank you.”

  He patted her back once, twice, then stepped away. “Backing away. See.” He held his hands out.

  “Whatever.” Bailey shook her head.

  “Nah, I know. No matter what happens, you’re family. Just wanted you to know.”

  Maverick clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, brother.”

  Gracie ran up with her hands in the air, and when she got to Maverick, she jumped as high as she could up into his arms.

  Luckily, Maverick knew what she was after and swung her up into the air before sitting her at his hip. “You ready to meet your baby pig’s mama?”

  “Ooooh. Yes.”

  Bailey watched as Maverick explained all about the mama pig and how the babies were waiting to come into the world until they were big and ready. He went on and on, and Bailey drank in every word, watching the fascination grow in Gracie’s face. Bailey imagined many a fall just like this one. She let her mind wander to when there would be a few more children around, to gatherings with the brothers and their wives and her parents, and it all felt too wonderful to be true.

  She knew she had to hang on before it all slipped through her fingers.

  Chapter 12

  Maverick should be congratulating himself on a super fine make-out session with a hot woman, but it wasn’t just any woman; it was Bailey. And now that he’d kissed her again, his whole body remembered she was his woman. Not a friend—no way. She was the woman he wanted to stand by his side in everything.

  When she’d asked him if he wanted to go watch the moon, he could have said no. He knew what was coming. And then the magic of the night air, her eyes shining up at him, and her words, “I won’t leave ever again.” It was too much to resist.

  But now he had to deal with the consequences. Could he trust her with his heart? His brain said there was no way he should ever do that again, but she already owned every beat of his heart, so now what? As he watched her with little Gracie, he had to ask himself, what did he love? The relationship they used to have? Or the new Bailey?

  Big Mama Lulu, their sow, grunted and fell to her side. Her breathing started to get real heavy, and Bailey gasped beside him. “Is she?”

  He chuckled. “I think so.” He leaned in real close and rested the top of his hat on Bailey’s head. “Do we tell her, or do we sneak out and pretend like nothing’s going on?”

  “I can hear you.” Gracie’s little voice surprised him.

  “Not much gets past my girl.”

  He turned to see Gracie with both hands on her hips, watching him.

  Then he looked from Bailey to Gracie. “I think Grandma has some yummy dessert going on back at the house. You ready for boysenberry pie?”

  Bailey laughed. “I have a feeling Maverick’s ready for some of that pie.”

  “You know I am. I already ate the turtles.”

  “What? All of them?”

  “Well, no, but the others I hid in my room.” He winked. “And I think we have some ice cream, specially made.”

  Gracie started to skip out the door, but then she stopped. “But what’s going on with Lulu?”

  “See? Catches everything.” Bailey grinned. “Nothing, honey. Well, nothing we’re sure of. Sometimes when mamas are pregnant, they get real tired and rest like that.”

  “But sometimes they do this when they’re about to have the little piggies come out.”

  “Come out?” Gracie’s eyes went wide.

  “Now you’ve done it.”

  He felt his cheeks warm. “Well, I didn’t want to be leaving out parts.”

  “That’s what talking to kids is all about. You leave out parts.”

  He laughed. “Well, not when I talk to kids.” He held out his hand. “Come here, pumpkin. I’m gonna teach you something really cool about pigs.”

  Bailey shook her head. “This I gotta see.”

  Gracie ran up and climbed on his lap, and Bailey sat beside him. “See Lulu over there?” The big sow moaned. “She’s gonna start having some babies tonight.”

  Gracie wrinkled up her nose like she didn’t understand.

  “Right now, they’re all living inside her. But they’re too big for that little space, and they’re gonna come out and live outside now.”

  “How long’s this gonna take?”

  “I don’t know. Sometimes it takes all night long.”

  “So can I come back tomorrow and take a look?”

  “That’s a great idea. I see you’re practical like your mama. Then we can go in and get me some of that pie.”

  She hopped off his lap. “Can I really have one of the babies?”

  “You sure can. As soon as they’re old enough, we’ll work together to get it ready to show.”

  She grabbed one of each of their hands and skipped between them back toward the house.

  They made their way back, both their mamas looking out at them from the kitchen window. Maverick knew they painted a pretty picture. He knew they were filling everyone inside that house with all kinds of hope. And he loved them all for it. But he sure hoped nobody’s heart was gonna be broken through all this.

  They ate dessert, played games, and laughed more than they had in a long time. Then at last, they walked the Hempsteads out to their car.

  “Thank you for a real nice time.” Mama Hempstead kissed Maverick’s cheek, hugged his mama, and climbed up into the car while her husband held the door.

  Mama’s eyes crinkled with a happiness you only earned by living like she did. “I’m so happy Sunday dinners are back. You join us as often as you can, now.”

  “We will, Mama Dawson.” Bailey stepped over and wrapped her arms around the woman she loved like her own mama.

  “Oh, it feels good to hear you calling me that again. Welcome back, honey.”

  “Thank you.”

  Then Maverick opened the door for Gracie to climb in.

  “Get buckled, little lady.”

  Her small voice made him smile. “Okay.”

  Bailey stepped closer, his arm still on the door. She stood on her toes and kissed him on the mouth right in front of everyone. He was too shocked to respond. She stepped awa
y quickly, her face uncertain, so he reached an arm around her and pulled her back. “Well, if we’re gonna go announcing things to the loved ones, we best be doing it right.”

  Then he kissed her again, with emphasis.

  The guys called out from the front door, and his mama clapped.

  They laughed, and then Bailey climbed into her car.

  He closed the door, wishing she was staying with him instead of heading back to her place, even if it was just over the ridge.

  His mama came to stand by him as they drove away. “You okay?”

  “I’m about as okay as a horse who doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

  “She’s a good soul.”

  “I know that.”

  “Perhaps a bit skittish.”

  “That’s one of the things I’m worried about.”

  She nodded. “But she knows where home is.”

  “Yeah, she came back. Thanks for dinner, Mama. It was real special.”

  “Your papa would have liked it too.”

  “Yeah, he would have.”

  They turned to go into the house. As soon as they entered the front door, Decker waved an envelope at him.

  “What’s this?”

  “Something awesome. Since we’re all here, let’s talk about it.”

  “Well, okay then.” He made his way into the living room. His other brothers were already in there.

  “Does everyone but me know what’s going on?”

  “We sure do.” Nash grinned.

  Decker stood at the front of the room. “If you could please be seated. This next meeting of the Dawson family is now in session.”

  Maverick sat by his mama, and he couldn’t tell if she knew what was going on.

  “I have here an offer addressed to Maverick.”

  Maverick held up his hand. “Well now, if it’s addressed to me…”

  “Steady. I’ll give it to you in just a minute. But this offer is for a spot on a rodeo team, to ride the circuit—”

  “What? Give that here.” Maverick stood and took it from him. After a quick perusal, he saw Decker wasn’t kidding. His old team wanted him back, no strings, no penalties. They just wanted him to ride bulls.

  “You could do it, Maverick,” Nash said.

  “Not with everyone else doing circuits of their own.”

  “Well, we were thinking maybe we could take turns.”

  Mama rested a hand on his arm. “And I could hire a manager.”

  Maverick’s first reaction was to shake his head at that. No one but a Dawson had ever run the ranch, and he was pretty sure no one else could. But then he let the idea settle, and he recognized it had merit. Even if he didn’t ride the circuit, a manager might be a great idea.

  “So this spring, you guys think you could take care of everything while I take off?”

  “Believe it or not, we could.” Decker shook his head. “And every one of us thinks it’s time you got to do something you love, too.”

  The guys all watched him, open, sincere, willing to give up a little bit of something of their own so he could have a circuit. He knew what it would cost them. If they stepped away when things were hot, sometimes they just couldn’t get back in. For those of them who didn’t have a record or a really winning season, they might not be able to get back on a team. Though sometimes just being a Dawson gave them a leg up.

  “I don’t know.”

  “We figure, by spring, you and Bailey might already be a thing, and she could go along with the little peanut.”

  “You thought of that, did you?” He knew they meant well. He was grateful. Touched. But he couldn’t do it this year. “Look, guys…”

  “No. Don’t say it. Just think about it. Stick the envelope on top of your desk and mull it over.” Nash stood. “And I’m gonna go hit the hay. G’night, brothers. Mama.”

  “Good night,” they chorused.

  And soon, Maverick and his mama were the only ones left sitting in their chairs, staring at a packet of papers.

  “What do you think I should do, Mama?”

  “You’ll know what to do. I don’t have any easy answers for this one. But it’s nice to have an option. If you need to get away, this is a great opportunity.”

  He wondered at the way she’d phrased things. But he just nodded.

  “Hey, guys!” he called loud enough for them to hear him upstairs. “I’ve got something more to say.”

  When his brothers lined the stairs, Nash in his pajama bottoms and Decker with a toothbrush in his mouth, Maverick grinned. “I think we should consider a new Dawson presence at the Texas state fair.”

  His mama sucked in her breath. And his brothers’ eyes lit.

  He knew that would get them off him and onto something awesome.

  Decker leaned on the stair railing. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I just think our Jersey cow needs to make a showing.”

  “Okay…and?” Nash was too into his own self for his own good, but Maverick couldn’t blame him.

  “And I think we should do a Dawson rodeo demonstration.”

  “A show?”

  “Absolutely. I think we should pitch our show.”

  “You know they’ll take us.”

  “Well, of course.”

  “And I think we should take the 4-H kids.”

  The brothers exchanged glances.

  “What?”

  “So is this about us or the cute little daughter of your hottie girlfriend?”

  Maverick laughed. “This is all about you. It’s always about you. Now, if Gracie Faith happens to win her second blue ribbon while we’re at it, I’m gonna call that a big ol’ bonus for Uncle Maverick.”

  They shook their heads, every one of them, in imitation of their father. But each one of their eyes twinkled like this was the best idea he’d ever had.

  “Okay, so I’m taking that as a yes. Decker, get us signed up.”

  “What? Why me?”

  “’Cause you’re the one that got me the rodeo paperwork.”

  He pointed his finger at the other brothers. “I knew this was gonna come back to nip at me. Entering the state fair takes months.”

  “Let us know when we’re all signed up and ready to go.”

  He moaned, but Maverick could tell they were all pleased.

  “And you, Mama.”

  “What about me?”

  “Are you gonna enter any of your quilts?”

  She started to shake her head no but then paused. “You know, I just might make a new one.”

  “That’s excellent. I think this is gonna be the best Texas state fair showing we’ve had in years.”

  “There’s just one more thing I gotta know.” Dylan raised his hand.

  “Yes.”

  “Just how long were you tangled up with Bailey before Nash came out to interrupt you?”

  Maverick laughed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We were watching the moon rise.”

  “We could always go watch the footage…” For a moment, his mama’s expression looked just as mischievous as Nash’s. Maverick understood how she got on with her youngest son so well.

  “What footage?” Maverick cringed.

  “The footage from the camera your daddy had installed up there when we were worried about critters. We used to scroll through the files, and let me tell you, we saw a lot more than critters up there.”

  The brothers all turned to look at their mama with the same horrified expressions until she started to shake and held a hand over her face as she laughed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She waved her hand. “I’m just messing with you boys. But now I’m beginning to think I should have done just that.”

  They each kissed her cheek as they turned to go, laughing off her comment.

  “Good night, boys.” She waved them off to bed.

  Maverick followed them, feeling happier than he had in a long time. Even the tiny voice inside that whispered things couldn’t be as good as they seemed was drowned
out by the memory of holding Bailey in his arms.

  Chapter 13

  Bailey went home happier than she’d been since before leaving Willow Creek. Gracie Faith chattered the whole way home about the Dawson brothers and how funny Nash was and how Decker let her ride piggyback and that Grandma has yummy cookies and how she was so excited to have her very own piggy. And when she’d exhausted all possible topics, she said, “Mama, I really love Maverick.” She hugged herself. “My own baby piggy.” Then she sat up. “Can we go back and visit tomorrow? Please?”

  “Of course.” Even though the thought made her suddenly giddy with excitement, she wondered if she could overstay her welcome at the Dawson ranch. “But maybe we should give the piggies time to be born and get used to their new surroundings before we start staring at them.”

  She thought about it and then nodded. “Okay.”

  They pulled up to the house.

  Her mother wrapped an arm across her shoulders on the way into the house. “You and Maverick seemed happy.”

  “We are, I think. We have some things to work through, but it’s nice just to be back together.”

  “I believe it. It’s nice for all of us to see you like that.”

  “When do you start over at the school?” Her dad held the front door open for them.

  “I have training for a couple days, and then they want me with the students Monday of next week.”

  “That’s so exciting.” Mom hugged her. “Everything is just so nice since you’ve come back.”

  “I know. I wonder how long it can last. But then I remember it’s always been pretty great here.” She kissed her mom and dad and then headed up the stairs with Gracie Faith in tow. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

  She was almost all the way up the stairs when her mom called up, “I forgot to tell you. Someone by the name of Daniel called.”

  Bailey stopped and reached a hand out to the wall to steady herself. “What did you tell him?”

  “Nothing. Just that you weren’t here. He asked about Gracie, seemed like a nice man.”

  She shook her head. “Why is he calling me?”

  Her mom looked from Gracie to Bailey’s face and then nodded. “I don’t know, but if you don’t want to talk to him, we can always block his calls.”