Chapter 26
Twenty-six
Maverick
Leaning back into my saddle on Storm, I feel the light thump in my head from yesterday’s alcohol consumption.
My mind still revelling in last night, in our field, worshipping my girl the only way she should have been all these years.
It was hard to walk away from her, from fucking her, making love to her, but I have to make sure this is done right.
She’s still fragile, and I’m one of the reasons, if not the main reason as too why.
She also now has a daughter in the mix of everything. It isn’t just me and her anymore.
Those days are long gone.
“Hey, Mav!” I hear Colter shout, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yes, boss,” I reply, smirking at the name I give my best friend, knowing how much he hates me calling him it.
“Let’s get them into this pasture and then I think we’re done for today,” He shouts from the left side of the herd.
“Got it, Boss,” I shout back, urging Storm to walk forward, guiding the herd in the right direction of the pasture.
Once settled in the field, I ride Storm over to Colter, pulling on her reigns as we meet him shutting the large gate.
Jimmy hasn’t shown his face today, so it’s Colter and I moving the four hundred something cattle across the land and into a new field for them to graze, which on a severe hangover, isn’t an easy feat.
Shouldn’t have been possible, but we did it, we grew up doing it, although the hangovers have lasted longer the older I’ve gotten.
Hopefully the fucker never shows his face around me, my girl and her family again; but that’s not my call to make, this isn’t my ranch.
Colter thought about calling Mabel in to help, but knowing how much my girl drank yesterday, and that Ellie was safe at her grandparents, I managed to talk him out of it.
My girl needs a break and if that meant I have to work up even more of a sweat with the cattle, then so be it.
“Good work today, brother,” Colter says, mounting back on Dash, before leading him over to me.
“Don’t sweat it,” I smile back at him, turning Storm to the direction back to the main barn on the land.
“So, score any brownie points with my sister after you disappeared, last night?” Colter asks, eyes wide with fascination.
I pull my hand up towards my neck. “I’m not discussing what goes on between me and your sister with you.” I wink back at him.
“Actually, forget I asked.” He says, heaving over his finger.
“Ask stupid questions, get stupid answers.”
“Yeah, too much information, Mav” he replies, still heaving into thin air.
We urge the horses into a run, the main houses coming into sight, as well as the barn.
I spot Ellie in the distance, in one of the schooling pens with a grey horse, running around and playing with the beast.
“Ellie’s having fun,” I say to Colter, nodding in her direction.
“That’s Shadow, Ellie’s horse, she loves that thing.” Colter smiles proudly at his niece.
“Takes after the heritage then,” I laugh out at him.
“Not a good working horse, but perfect for pony rides, the thing loves kids,” Colter says as he looks into the distance at them.
I slow Storm into a slow trot as I make my way towards the pen, never taking my eyes off Ellie and Shadow. Watching them play together in the pen reminds me of Mabel when she was younger, she would do the exact same thing with them all; Most days, I’d have to pull her way.
Leaving Colter to head back to the barn by himself, I soldier on towards the pen, whistling to Ellie to get her attention.
“Mr Maverick!” she squeals, abandoning the horse and hurling herself up along the fence.
I laugh at the name. “Ellie, you can just call me Mav, everyone else does.”
“Mama always says I have to be polite,” she smiles at me, her Cowboy hat firmly placed on her head.
“Little lady, you could never be rude.” I say, reaching her on my best girl.
“Is this your horse?” she asks me as I dismount Storm, bringing her closer to the little lady who is quickly capturing my heart. “Yes,” I reply, pulling Storm’s mouth up high enough for Ellie to touch her. “This is Storm.”
Ellie brings her hand up to scratch Storm’s nose and my girl welcomes the affection, neighing along to the scratches she’s receiving. I take my hat off my head, wiping my brow with the line of sweat that was there from the day’s work; alongside the whiskey that’s still trying to break out of me.
“She’s pretty,” Ellie says, her eyes never leaving my girl. “Who named her?” she asks, eyes now looking straight at me.
I know that Ellie knows nothing of mine and her mom’s past, a man can guess so much and pick up on the rest.
“I, uh-” I start before being interrupted. “I named her, Sugar.” Mabel’s voice comes into range.
My eyes dart straight over to the woman who holds my heart. She walks over to where we are standing, hair flowing in the wind.
She’s wearing a purple dress, skirt short at the front, brown working Ariat’s on full show. Beige cowboy hat, sitting firmly on her head. Her flaming orange hair resting down, slightly curled still from yesterday.
She looks breathtaking.
I feel my cheeks blush at her admission to her daughter, when I wasn’t able to answer, I don’t know exactly how much I’m allowed to tell Ellie.
“Really, Mama?” Ellie asks, eyes wide open.
“Sure did.” Mabel smirks at me as she reaches us, giving Storm a good pat on her neck. Storm starts to aggressively shake her head up and down at the familiarity. “Hey, girl.” Mabel smiles at her.
Still holding Storm’s reins in my hands, my mind spirals back to last night.
When my head was in between her thighs…
“Maverick,” Mabel pulls me out of my trance.
I clear my throat, trying to regain some composure. “Mabel,” I stutter out.
Mabel lets out a shy giggle, before turning to look at her daughter.
“You causing mischief again, girlie?” she asks.
“No, Mama,” Ellie starts before turning her head back at Shadow. “Just playing.” She smiles.
“Well, carry on Ellie-belly, I’m sure Maverick needs to get home.” She scoffs out a laugh.
That nickname…
And the hell? I don’t need to get home…
“Actually, I,” I stutter out once again, taking my hat back off my head, both girls looking back at me with wonder in their eyes. “Would you, I mean would you ladies...”
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“Would you ladies, like to come with me, to the fair on Saturday?” I manage out, luckily without hurting myself too much at the simple request.
Ellie lets out a loud squeal at my request. “Can we, Mama, can we?” she asks back at Mabel. Her response brings a smile back to my really nervous look. Mabel looks back at me wide eyed. “Are you sure?” she asks.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I reply, completely sure of this girl and her daughter.
“Okay then.” Is all Mabel manages, before Ellie starts cheering so loudly, it makes both the horses jump. Mabel and I laugh at the little girl, dancing round in the pen.
“Alright, Ellie, calm down,” Mabel says, trying to stop her daughter from scaring the horses even more.
“Sorry, Mama,” Ellie replies, stopping her dancing almost immediately. “Sorry,” Mabel shrugs out at me, and my shoulders sag in relief.
I’d give anything right now to take hold of her and dip her into a deep kiss; but I know I can’t, not with Ellie watching. “Nothing to apologize for, Firefly.” I wave her off, accepting my queue.
“Anyway, I’m going to get back to the barn, I’ll see you girls later,” I wink back at Mabel before mounting Storm, giving her a gentle kick to walk on towards the horse barn.
****
Running the brush down alongside the black coloured mare whose stall I’d just mucked out; I let out a shaky breath; what on earth was wrong with me?
Why couldn’t I just ask them to the fair on Saturday without turning into an absolute wreck?
I’ve just spent the last thirty minutes muttering profanities at myself, talking to the horses about what a fucking idiot I am.
I’m definitely losing my mind.
“Hey, Cowboy,” I hear echoing throughout the barn, my head shoots up towards the direction of the voice.
I find Mabel, leaning up against the entrance frame of the barn, leg crossed over the other, arms down to her sides, still in the same purple dress that I’d left her in, fitting her curves perfectly.
“Nice going on the date, Ellie’s just a tad bit excited,” she winks at me, before walking in my direction.
“I’m sorry, it was a terrible way to ask,” I laugh, trying to hide the nervousness in the pit of my stomach.
Mabel reaches me, pulling my hand into hers before curling her fingers into mine.
“I thought it was wonderful,” she says, looking up at me with her big sparkling blue eyes. I soften under her touch.
I lock my eyes to hers, gripping her fingers in my hand tighter, hoping she wouldn’t let go.
“Well,” she starts. “Are you going to give me a kiss hello? Or am I reading into this completely wrong?” she asks cheeks blushing.
I bring my face down to hers, hunching my back over to meet her small frame.
“You aren’t reading this wrong,” I whisper, as she lets go of my hand and throws her arms around my neck.
Our lips crash together once again, and I pull my arms around her waist, gripping on tight enough so I can lift her up to my level.
On impact, Mabel wraps her legs around my waist, giving herself a better grip onto me.
I stand there, holding us both up, lips and tongues moving in perfect sync with each other for what feels like hours, but could only have been minutes.
“Now that, was a kiss hello,” Mabel laughs as she pulls away from my face.
I smirk back at her, my hands still firmly holding her up by gripping tightly onto her ass.
My dick stands to attention the same as it always does when she’s close by, touching her’s only a bonus.
“The first of many I plan on giving you,” I say, winking at her which makes her already pink cheeks turn a deeper shade of red.
“That so huh,” she asks.
“If you’ll let me.”
I let Mabel back down onto the floor as I felt her wiggling for me to do so. I could have held onto her for hours like that, if she’ll let me.
I really hope she will let me.