“How did he take it?”
I can’thelp but chuckle mirthlessly. “Well, he’s homeless, and right aboutnow he’s in Vegas, screwing around with a whore he once cheated onme with.”
“Ouch.” He winces.
“And what about you? When your daddy died…what did youdo?”
“Well, like I said, Blake and Gunner went running, Gunner moreliterally. Mama took it real hard and we had to put her into ahospital for a spell. Me and Austin were visiting her often, andZack, too, and this was when I was away in El Paso, but that’sanother story. Anyway, we just kept keep watch, while I ran doubletime back in El Paso. When that didn’t pan out, I came back here.And the rest is history. Mama’s well now and has been for a while,and everything is good. Until Gunner decided to flunkout.”
“What do you think he wants to do with his life?”
“I imagine he just wants to stay on the ranch.” We head up thestreet, to a drive-thru style restaurant, and Maverick asks me whatI want to order. After he gives the order, he resumes ourconversation. “I think he just left because he felt like it wouldbe too hard to stay, with daddy gone and all. He’d applied tocolleges and was accepted into most of them, but he’d already toldus that he wasn’t going. Mama didn’t push him, either. But I thinkthat if he really wanted to put himself through college, that hewould have stayed.”
“Maybe he just chose the wrong program. What did hetake?”
“He was going for engineering. But I’m not sure what the wholestory is there. He’d make a great engineer. He’s bright and catcheson quick. If you want my opinion, I think Gunner’d make a betterengineer than a rancher. Not taking anything from him or anythingthere, don’t get me wrong, but Gunner’s got more brains than heknows what to do with.”
“Maybe he just needs a little psychotherapy…just like yourmama.”
“That could be true, too, doll. But he’s a man and he’ll neverown up to that. He’d sooner own up to being a failure at schoolthan that.”
“Not if I talk to him.”
Hesmiles at me as the girl delivers our things through the pick-upwindow. “Something tells me that you could talk a dog off a chuckwagon.”
“I’ve been known to be persuasive.”
Chapter 6
Maverick
We takethe food back to her place and eat it, surprising me. I figuredthat she wouldn’t let me in her house. But I think that I’ve beengentlemanly enough by now that she knows I wouldn’t put any moveson her, especially given the circumstances. I’d never try to seduceher in her delicate condition. That would be what a scumwad woulddo. Ellie gobbles the meal down, making me smile. And I make up mymind to bring her as many meals as possible. If that’s my jobduring her pregnancy, then that’s what I’ll do. Best part is, I getto see her, and I’ll get to know my baby before it’sborn.
I placemy phone on the table, and the screen comes up, boasting theultrasound picture. “You sure that’s safe to do?” Ellie says,noticing it.
“Oh, uh…you mean that if someone sees it and figures out thatyou’re expecting?”
“Yeah.”
“I promise you that I’ll be careful. But if it makes you feelbetter, I’ll change it.”
Sheconsiders that for a moment. “It’s okay. Hell, this day and age,you can say that it’s an album cover or something.”
“I’m not so great at lying. But I promise you I’ll be carefuland not let it out of my sight.”
“Okay.” She nods, taking the last bite of her French fry.“I’ve decided not to have an abortion.”
I lookat her and give her a warm smile. “When did you decidethis?”
“Earlier. I found myself talking to the baby. Realized that Idon’t have the heart to do it.”
“Can’t say I blame you, doll. I couldn’t stomach it, but Iwanted to be respectful.”
“Thanks, Maverick. I appreciate that.” She says, giving myhand a squeeze. “I just have to decide now if I’m going to keep itor give it up for adoption.”
Something occurs to me. And I’m not sure if it’sinappropriate or not, but I can’t stop myself from saying it allthe same. “I’ll adopt it if y’all don’t want it. My mama andbrothers and I will raise it.”
She getsa look like she wants to puke. “I’m sorry.” I say quickly. “Gosh, Ididn’t mean to upset you, Ellie.”
