Page 26 of Want You Back (Second Chance Ranch #1)

Chapter 26

Maverick

Adler and the girls made the county fair seem more fun than Disneyland, and surprisingly, I loved watching them eat their weight in junk food and try all the games and rides.

“This is the coolest little town.” Adler raved as he devoured a large elephant’s ear pastry, a sweet, doughy confection that rivaled the girls’ funnel cake in size. “And it’s yours.”

“It’s not mine.” I snagged a fry from the basket we’d all been sharing in the center of the picnic table. Colt and I had bought BBQ beef sandwiches from the rotary booth, one of the few offerings that wasn’t deep-fried. A tiny speck of sauce clung to his bristly chin, distracting me from Adler’s praise for Lovelorn. “Some pioneer ancestor thought too highly of himself, that’s all.”

“Dude. You have a town named after you.” Adler shook his head, eyes wide as if I were missing the point entirely. “I think that makes it yours.”

“Mine…” I said the world slowly, rolling it around in my mouth. The food court smelled like sugary grease and music from various rides filled the air. All around us, families had gathered for their suppers. The whole county had turned out for the fair, as always.

The same ancestors who’d slapped their name on the town that would become the county seat had chosen to put down roots here in the Disappointment Valley, a place so devoid of gold that the miners had left it to the farmers and ranchers. The rocky earth turned out to be good for growing beans and not much else. And even now, it was one of Colorado’s smallest and poorest counties in terms of economic impact. Indeed, this fair wasn’t put on for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who flocked to the state each year, but rather, this event was for the county itself.

I’d likely gone to school with half the folks here. They shopped at the Lovelorn Market, read the Lovelorn Press, played in Lovelorn Town Park. They were Lovelorn, not me. However, for the first time in my entire life, I considered Adler’s words. This was my town. If the ranch sold to corporate interests, what would become of the town? The longer I stayed, the more Colt’s worries carried weight. Faith was only too ready to find a developer. What did I personally owe to this area?

“I think it’s awesome that the town has our last name.” Hannah grinned. She was a Lovelorn by virtue of being born amid Faith’s second divorce, and her pride gave me a new perspective. Maybe it was kind of neat. And these people, the ones I’d grown up with, the ones I’d left behind, the ones who had welcomed me back, they weren’t my father. How long would I punish the area for his shortcomings as a parent?

“You’re the best Lovelorn ever.” I beamed right back at Hannah with so much love that my chest hurt from trying to hold it all. A few short months, and now I couldn’t imagine life without Hannah in it.

“Can Willow and I ride the Ferris wheel?” she asked as we finished the food.

I glanced at Colt to make sure he was in agreement. He nodded, so I said, “Sure.”

“Here. I’ll take the trash.” Adler scooped up the empty fry basket and various wrappers. “I can stay here, babysit the stuffed unicorns. You and Colt should go ride too.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Colt frowned. For whatever reason, he hadn’t taken to Adler, which was funny because everyone loved Adler. “Let the girls have their fun.”

“Come on, Uncle Maverick!” Hannah bounced on the balls of her feet.

“You too, Dad.” Willow was only slightly less wired as she gestured for us to follow them toward the big Ferris wheel at the far end of the midway.

“Do you want me to ride in the seat with you or with Maverick?” Colt asked Willow, voice surprisingly serious, and Willow considered his question with answering solemnity, taking a long pause before replying.

“You should ride with Maverick.” She nodded as we reached the ride. Her dark eyes were cloudy as she gave Colt a tight hug.

“What was that?” I asked him as we waited for our turn to board the Ferris wheel.

“I dunno.” Colt sounded a little dazed. “Guess maybe she’s okay with you.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“I hope so.” He continued to be far too solemn even as we settled in the tiny seat, side by side, hips touching.

“Look how far we can see.” I pointed, trying to earn the smile I’d wanted all afternoon.

“Seemed farther when we were younger.” Colt stared down at the fairgrounds rather than off into the horizon like me. When we were younger, the future had seemed as wide open as this vista, the solution to all my problems, a shiny beacon of hope. And now, I was an adult who knew better, but even rooted in the present, the view was stunning, the contrast of vast landscape and small county fair.

“Everything seemed farther away when we were kids.” I bumped his leg with mine. “Think anyone can see if I hold the sheriff’s hand?”

“Nah.” There was that grin, a little subdued, but the same Colt magic as always. He grabbed my hand, keeping both hidden below the bar holding us in place. “We can risk it.”

If he was willing to risk holding my hand in public while in his sheriff’s uniform, what was I willing to risk? All my thinky thoughts from earlier returned. From up here, I could see Lovelorn, the town, not the ranch, its people small like action figures below us. The question wasn’t simply what I owed this place but rather what I owed this man.

“Colt—”

“Ride’s almost done.” Colt abruptly dropped my hand as the ride slowed and dipped back toward the earth, taking my new perspective with it.

“Time for me to get ready!” Willow was only too eager to get over to the arena where Pepperjack and Kat were already waiting. Old wooden bleachers surrounded the riding arena where all the rodeo events took place. Earlier in the day, the little kid activities had taken place with sheep wrangling and other fun. The juniors—tweens and teens who had been riding since they were tiny themselves—would kick things off for the evening crowd.

After Colt dropped Willow off with Kat and the other riders, we all found seats with a decent view of the action. Two young teen boys showcased their roping skills, stirring up memories of the early years of Colt’s and my friendship, back before prom, before I’d come out, before I’d had the giant secret crush sitting between us. Just two friends, hanging out, trying to stay out of or get into trouble. We’d never roped together, but we’d had the same easy communication and ability to work in unison.

I’d had any number of friends in the intervening years, Adler included, but none like Colt. There was a soul-deep understanding between us, a comfort level I’d never found with anyone else. It was as if I had an inner compass true to Colt and, by extension, this place because I couldn’t take Colt away from here, couldn’t separate him from the town and county he loved.

After the roping, the junior barrel racers came out, tiny wisps of girls moving at breathtaking speeds and executing pinhead tight turns. Willow was up third, and right out of the gate, she looked faster and more controlled than the first two riders, attacking the obstacles with steely determination.

The crowd roared, and Colt and Hannah were on their feet cheering. I couldn’t help but join them in stamping and yelling. The atmosphere was electric as Willow turned for home. However, something happened—a stray rock or other hazard made the horse lose its footing—whatever it was, Willow was going far too fast as Pepperjack faltered. One second, she was on the horse, and the next, she was flying through the air.

Whump. She landed a few feet from Pepperjack as the rodeo clowns stormed in, one taking charge of the riderless horse and two others rushing to Willow. The arena grew deathly quiet.

“Oh no!” Hannah gasped.

“Willow!” Colt scrambled down from the bleachers, face as pale as I’d ever seen it. “I’ve got to get to her.”

He rushed away before I could find my voice. I had no clue what I would say in any event. I couldn’t promise she’d be okay when she clearly wasn’t. EMTs from the first-aid tent joined the rodeo workers, and they strapped Willow onto a backboard before carrying her from the arena. Nervous cheers went up, but the crowd remained on edge, with anxious chatter and a weird energy, even as the announcer tried to settle folks back down for the next riders.

My attention, however, was entirely on Colt and Willow, who were now out of sight but squarely in the center of my mind. Adler nudged my arm.

“I’ll watch Hannah.” He gestured down at the side of the arena where a clump of people had gathered at the first-aid tent. “You should go to your friend.”

“I hope Willow is okay.” Hannah sounded near tears.

“Me too.” I reached across Adler to pat her shoulder. “You doing all right?”

“Yeah. You go be with Colt.” Hannah took a deep breath, like she was trying to brace herself. “He needs you. And so does Willow.”

“Okay.” I turned back to Adler. “Here’s my car keys in case you need to get back to the ranch without me.”

With that, I hurried out of the stands and to the first-aid tent. An ambulance stood at the ready next to the closed tent, and all I could do was wait and hope and pray until Colt emerged, alone, from the tent.

“How is she?” I went to him right away.

“Conscious.” Squishing his eyes shut, he rubbed his nose, doing about as good a job as Hannah had at not crying. “No visible fractures, but that’s not saying much. She’s complaining up a blue streak about the backboard and neck brace.”

“Sounds about right.” I wanted to touch him in the worst way but couldn’t, not with this many people around and not with him so close to falling apart. The last thing Colt wanted was for people to see him cry, so I used my most bolstering tone. “And at least she’s feeling up to complaining.”

“Yeah.” Colt’s voice was a hundred years’ worth of weary. “They want to transport her for further concussion evaluation. She picked my mom to ride with her in the ambulance.”

“I’ll drive you.” I didn’t leave room for argument. “I already gave Adler my keys. I’ll drive you in your truck so we can meet them at the hospital.”

“You don’t have to do that.” Eyes distant, he exhaled hard.

“Let me help, Colt.” I made it an order, not a request.

“Okay.” The fight left him, shoulders slumping farther. “Let me tell my mom before they load her up.”

He ducked back into the tent. I used the opportunity to text Adler and Hannah to tell them the plan and to not expect me back anytime soon.

When Colt returned, his eyes were even redder. “Let’s go.”

We clomped to his truck in silence, but as soon as he was settled in the passenger seat, he tipped his head back against the seat, taking long, shaky breaths.

“Hey. It’s okay.” I rubbed his upper arm through his uniform shirt. “I know there’s a lot of tests remaining, but she’s conscious. That’s a good sign.”

“I don’t know what I’d do if I lost her.” His voice broke. “God, I wish Betsey were here. She’d know what to say and do. She was always so much braver.”

“I know.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. My throat had a meteor-sized lump in it. Talking hurt. And okay, I hurt too. I’d been naive and more than a little self-centered, acting like Colt had been in some sort of time bubble, waiting for my return. No, he’d had a life here the whole time. A life he’d loved. A life he’d lost and rightfully grieved. Of course he missed Betsey. Much as I hated to share Colt, she’d been his best friend too. I needed to honor that, hard as it was to find the words. “I know you miss her and Willow does as well. But she’d be proud of you both. You’re a good dad. Remember what you told me with the rattlesnake? You do the best you can and fall apart later.”

“Yeah.” Colt sat up enough to nod. “Guess this is the falling apart.”

“You’re allowed.” I patted his thigh like my touch might make any difference. “And I’m going to make sure you get to Willow. You can use the ride to feel what you need to. I’m here.”

“Why do I let her do this sport?” Collapsing forward, Colt rested his head in his hands.

“Because she loves it.” I moved to massaging his neck and shoulders. In a second, I’d need to drive, but right now, calming Colt was the bigger priority. “Remember Betsey riding through a broken wrist and other injuries?”

“Yep. Willow was already chomping at the bit to get back out there, even on a stretcher in the tent, talking about what went wrong and how she could fix it. Next time.” He gave a barky laugh. “God, I might not survive a next time.”

“You will.” I squeezed his tense shoulder. “Because she loves riding, loves you, and needs your support.”

“Yeah.” Straightening, he took a series of shallow breaths. “Thanks for being here. You were right. I’m in no shape to drive.”

“I’m here, Colt.” I took his hand in mine. “I’m not going anywhere.”

And there it was. The thought that had been just out of reach all day slammed into me like I was the one hitting the dirt. I wasn’t going anywhere.