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“What do you think, bud?” Gander just barked his appreciation and laid down at her feet with the antler. “Yeah, I agree. That was a good find. Speaking of, I’m glad you found Bennett. He’s a good one, huh?” It wasn’t surprising that she didn’t get a response.

Oh, man. She was talking to animals now? Worse yet, she’d half expected Gander to shoot something back about Bennett spoiling him with table food and long walks through the woods.

She stood and patted his head. “Wish I could stay and chat with you about life and that troublesome owner of yours, but duty calls.”

Gander just barked his response and laid back down on the deck.

“Good talk,” she said, smiling and walking to the barn. She saddled up Golden and headed the other direction from where her guys had gone, toward the canyon entrance.

The late morning light was soft, but its backlit effect on the cherry and magnolia blossoms made the ride ethereal. She inhaled deeply, the sweet, aromatic scent of her childhood springs on the ranch both nostalgic and welcoming. A gentle breeze slipped through Maggie’s curls, the erratic winds of early summer behind them at last.

“It’s a nice day, Golden. God, I miss him, especially on days like this. He loved riding through the canyon on days like this. Am I a horrible daughter for not coming back to ride with him? For not helping put the Steel Born equipment to work?” Grief bubbled up in her throat, but she swallowed it back. Now wasn’t the time. “Only one penalty is outstanding, so that should mean a good week for the ranch at least.”

The horse just snorted her approval and kept her even canter along the creek’s edge. “You’re right. Except for Bennett, it’s been a pretty seamless trip back.”

Golden shook her head and blew a puff of air out of her nose.

“Yeah. I know. The ranch is bad, too. But it’s coming along.”

Golden snorted.

“Thanks to Bennett’s help. I get it. I should’ve been kinder to him. It wasn’t his fault after all. But he didn’t reach out, either.”

The horse didn’t have anything to say about that particular thought, and Maggie sighed.

“I just can’t promise him anything because I can’t stay. I have a life back in San Antonio.”

Golden nickered, and Maggie swore it sounded like a laugh. At her, no doubt.

“Okay, not a life, life but a business at least. And Jill.”

The list ended there. Jill and a job and a horse and a dog who would listen to her one-sided conversations. No boyfriend, nightlife, property, or even friends outside her coworker. It was kinda pathetic, wasn’t it?

“But that doesn’t mean I should come back, does it? I mean, ranching isn’t my life anymore, either.”

A bee buzzed by Maggie’s ear, and she shooed it away.

“I need to think, that’s all. That’s why I’m taking the time here, right? To make sure I pass on a good, functioning ranch to someone, sure. But also to make sure I don’t have any regrets about leaving for good this time.”

The bee landed on Maggie’s arm, and she gently flicked it off. One of the rare aspects of spring she didn’t love was the insect takeover of the valley.

Bushes up ahead rustled and Golden’s ears perked up. Okay, maybe not just insects.

She whistled and tugged the reins to the right to cross the creek and leave whatever mammal was foraging for food to their business so she could continue on hers.

And that was when the pesky bee landed on Golden’s neck.

“Pssst,” she hissed at the thing, but it didn’t budge. “Come on. Go!”

She waved around the bee but didn’t touch it in case that was enough to spook her horse, the bee, or both.

Too late. Golden tossed her neck and then neighed sharply. She’d been stung. Golden reached the embankment at the same time she bucked in pain, tossing her head back and forth. Maggie held tight to the reins but barely.

“Shhh. It’s okay, Golden.” Maggie tried rubbing the area, but Golden wouldn’t stop bucking or shaking. “Please, hon. You’ll be okay. Just trust me.”

Golden reared back on her hind legs and Maggie slipped. Just like that, she felt the weightlessness of falling compounded with the fear of landing, then she crashed to the ground and a searing pain shot up her leg.

She exhaled slowly and lifted the hem of her jeans. Her ankle was already swollen but even though it was excruciating, she could still move it side to side and up and down. It wasn’t broken, but it was in bad shape.