Chapter 14
Fourteen
Maverick
Looking at my watch in the dimly-lit stable, it’s just gone four-ten in the morning.
Thank God for smart watches otherwise I wouldn’t be able to see. Storm’s standing beside me, letting out a gentle whine.
“Shh, girl,” I say to her with a boyish grin on my face.
My reunion with this girl’s been magical.
I don’t know what I was expecting from her; hell, I haven’t seen her in the thirteen years since I’ve been gone. Although my mom loved putting her on video call for me over the years when I started calling more.
Storm is uncontrollable. As soon as I open the door to her stable, she shoots through faster than she’s done before, knocking me on my ass as she pushed through.
I don’t think my heart could have taken being rejected by her as well.
“All right, girl, ready to work?” I say to her as I give her a pat on her neck.
I practiced over the weekend with Storm, to see if I could still herd, or even ride at all. Another thing I hadn’t thought through properly when Colter offered me the job. But luckily, they’re right when they say you never forget.
Taking grip of the saddle, I place my left foot in the stirrup, and pull my body weight, swinging my right leg over her back to sit firmly in place in the saddle. Taking the reins, I adjust my hat and nudge her with a gentle kick, signalling Storm forward into a walk.
Colter said to be at the ranch for four-thirty, just before sunrise. I already know where I need to go. He offered me a horse, but I don’t want to ride anyone else accept my girl.
I thought about taking her over in a horse box, but luckily my ranch boarders the Riggin’s so it’s easier to ride her over the field’s instead. I kick Storm into a gallop once we reach the open field.
Man, I’ve forgotten the feeling of this, the freedom that comes with galloping a horse through a wide-open space.
It doesn’t take long to reach the stables at the Riggin’s. As I walk Storm into the huge stable, I see Colter tacking up his own horse. He looks at me with a side eye and shakes his head.
“Nice to see you still have good time keeping skills,” he says as he swings his leg onto his horse.
“Some things don’t change.” I wink at him.
I watch as Colter leans forward in his saddle, clicking his tongue against his mouth, urging his horse to walk towards me. I turn Storm to follow in the direction he’s heading and walk side by side with him and his beast.
“Good looking horse,” I say.
“Thanks, his name’s Dash. Good worker.” Colter gives Dash a firm pat.
We urge both horses into a slow trot, taking off towards the east. I look out towards the horizon; the sun hasn’t begun to come up just yet.
Looking at my best friend, I wonder whether to bring up his daughter that I met on Saturday before Mabel ushered her away from me.
Surely, he’d tell me if he became a dad, wouldn’t he?
“So…” I start and Colter looks at me as he slows Dash back into a walk. I follow suit with Storm.
“I ran into Ellie on Saturday, she seems great.” I smile at him.
Colter looks at me with a blank expression on his face.
“Yeah, she is,” he muster’s out.
Damn, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything so soon.
“Well, congrats,” I reply.
Colter doesn’t answer, looking as sheepish as I did over the weekend.
What’s that all about?
Kicking Dash into a slow run, I again urge Storm to keep up with him. It doesn’t take long before the herd of cattle come into view in the field.
Wow, they certainly have doubled in size since I was last here.
“Right, Mav', we need to move them over further west,” Colter starts with his instruction.
“Gotcha! A lot of cattle for two of us, no?” I ask, concerned with the lack of manpower. Colter shakes his head, still with the look on his face.
“Don’t panic, Jimmy’s on his way and we have two more along for the ride,” Colter says before heading towards the herd.
That name sends a shiver down my spine.
The reason I disappeared.
The reason it all went to shit.
Fuck.
I take in a deep breath and try to calm the burning anger that’s now forming in my chest.
Jimmy Jones was what we called trailer trash from the outskirts of Springfield.
He was in mine and Colter’s grade at school, not overly smart from what I remember. I’ve no idea why Colter would offer him employment; I remember his deep dislike for the guy. I however, felt sorry for him, up until that day.
Shaking my head, trying to push my emotions back into check, I click my tongue and Storm walks down towards the herd. I will not mess this up for Colter. I don’t know the history there nor is it my place to get involved.
Colter is now my boss, and this land is not my own.
Reaching Colter, I hear a horse’s footsteps galloping towards us.
I look up from under my hat and see Jimmy coming towards us.
His hat has loose pieces of straw in, and I see the hole in his shirt from here.
He’s aged, as we all have but from looking at his appearance, nothing’s changed for him in that department.
Riding closer to us, I watch him staring at me, shock written on his face. I gather Colter hasn’t told his employee about me coming back.
“Well as I live and breathe. Maverick Bennett,” Jimmy says to me, looking like a deer caught in the headlights.
“Jimmy.” I nod to him, my scowl struggling to stay contained. Before Jimmy can say anything else to me, Colter starts to speak.
“Right lads, herd needs to move out two fields across.”
I look at him, trying to listen to his instructions and ignore the need to punch this piece of shit.
“Jim, take the front.” He continues, pointing for him to move. Jimmy complies and kicks his horse into a run, heading towards the front of the herd.
“Me and you, Mav', will hold up the back and the sides.” I nod back to him; thankful it’s me and my best friend holding it down together.
“On it, boss.” I wink and he smirks at me.
“You-” he pauses, “do not get to call me that.” he laughs, pointing at me.
“Gotcha, boss,” I wink again, Colter shaking his head. I laugh back at my friend before taking Storms reins and slapping it hard against my leg. Shouting to make the cows move. The cattle move forward, mooing in annoyance.
“Keep an eye out for the babies, Mav', had a few mamas’ turn their young away.” Colter shouts from my left. My hand tilts my hat in response.
I watch Jimmy up the front of the herd, narrowing my eyes to burn holes in the back of his broken hat. Piece of shit.
We pick the pace up and the herd move steadily. So far only one or two cows have moved away from the herd which we rectify quickly.
I’m proud of myself; I’ve still got it.
Hearing more horses galloping behind us, Colter lets out a loud whistle towards Jimmy, where he pulls his horse to a stop, and the herd follows suit.
I pull on Storm’s reins to bring her to a halt.
I look behind me from under my hat and see Mabel and Ellie now trotting towards us on their horses.
I smile at the sight of Dusty. I’m so pleased the old man still had it in him.
Mabel looks directly at me, face blank, pulling Dusty to a holt and Ellie following her lead, the corner of her mouth pulling up into a slight grin. I nod my head at her, returning the gesture.
“Mr Maverick!” Ellie squeals from her horse.
“Hey, Ellie. Nice to see you again.” I smile, giving her a nod.
I look back at Mabel and see her eyes looking anywhere but her brother, or me.
“You working here now?” Ellie asks me, looking cute as a button with her small cowboy hat firmly in place on her head.
“I sure am.” I reply, glad that someone else is happy to be around me. Her Tennessee accent brings back memories of my girl at that age. My heart flutters at the memory.
“Where do y’all need us?” Mabel finally turns to her brother.
“It’s my first time, Mr Maverick.” Ellie says, looking proud in her saddle. Well, first time means we need to put on a good show.
“Well, Ellie you come with me on the side-” Colter nods to her. “Mabe’s, you and Mav' can keep an eye on the back and other side.” I watch Mabel roll her eyes.
My mind races; I should try and talk to her again.
“Perfect.” She gives out an unimpressed look.
I shrug my shoulders at her. I have a small feeling Colter done that on purpose; however, I don’t mind one bit. Any opportunity to be close to her, I’ll take at this point. I see Jimmy riding closer to us, and I let out an agitated breath.
“Hi Mabel!” he says, flickering his eyes at her and I let out a growl.
“Uhm… hey, Jimmy.” She nods back, looking unbothered by his presence as she rearranges her hat.
“Beautiful day we’re supposed to have,” he tries again.
Now I find myself smirking at the pathetic effort of a conversation.
“Yeah, hope so,” she replies, again looking anywhere but his direction.
“Jimmy, let’s go!” Colter backs his horse up, nodding at Ellie to follow.
“Yeah, um… bye, Mabel.” He waves at my girl, blushing like an idiot. I roll my eyes.
I edge Storm closer to Dusty and try and meet Mabel’s eyes. I open my mouth to speak but hear the sound of Colter’s whistle and the herd starts to move again. I slap Storms reins on my leg once again, urging them in the right direction.
I watch Mabel from the corner of my eye; her auburn hair is being blown backwards in the breeze. Sunrise creeps over the horizon; day light fast approaching.
I see a cow run out to the side, but before I can urge Storm into a run, Mabel rushes past me on Dusty, pushing the steer back into formation of the herd. I let out a heated breath as she trots back over towards me.
“You haven’t lost it working in that office, Firefly,” I say, turning my head to face her.
“Please, don’t call me that.” She shoots at me yet again, however, with less venom than last time. She turns her head to face me. The pain still there in her eyes. I offer her a small smile.
“I’m sorry,” I say. I see her shoulders sag and her head bow.
“It’s okay.” She looks back at me and offers a pained smile.
I catch her eyes in line with mine. I know I should look away, but I can’t. I refuse to stop the eye contact, especially if she isn’t turning away either.
A shout turns her head away from mine, in line of where Ellie and Colter are. Ellie’s racing her horse towards a steer that’s come away from the herd. I watch Ellie guide the cow back in line with the others. Both me and Mabel letting out a cheer.
“Did ya see me? Did ya see me, Mama?” She shouts, from across the field.
Hold up.
Mama?
I look back towards Mabel with force; she has a proud smile across her face. Colter shouting encouragement to Ellie.
“Sure did, baby!” Mabel shouts back to her.
The realisation drops that’s why Ellie looks so much like Mabel. I feel like I’m just being bucked off my horse, and the air is being ripped clean from my lungs.
She isn’t her niece.
Ellie’s her daughter.
Fuck, it all makes sense now.
The sheepish way Colter looked at me. Mabel ushering her away.
Her name.
Holy shit, Mabel’s a mom.
I look down to her finger and see no ring either. What happened whilst I was away?