Chapter 9
Maverick
It’sonly fair that I tell Ellie what happened at the ranch today. Shedeserves to know, and, let’s face it. This is a small town. Ifanyone finds out about this, it’ll spread, and then when Elliefinds out, I’m going to look like the biggest asshole that everlived, and she’ll never trust me again. Truthfully, it took me allday to gather up the courage to come and tell her, but it helpedthat Blake wanted me to cover for one of our hands, that got sickthis morning, and had to go lay down for the rest of theday.
I gaveher a heads up that I needed to talk to her about something, and Ihope I didn’t cause her too much strife, I just don’t want to catchher off guard. But my face is telling as soon as she opens thedoor. My first words are that I’m sorry for not showing up at lunchtime, but, thankfully, she had company, so I don’t feel so bad.“Did you have a nice lunch?”
“Yeah. Denice, Will’s sister, she’s a good friend of mine. Ina lot of ways, she’s one of my best friends.”
“Sloane get in touch?”
Her gazeis on the floor a she shakes her head no. “And I don’t plan oncalling her, either.”
“That’s your choice, love.”
Shegives me a tight smile. “So, what’s on your mind? You said youwanted to talk to me about something?”
“Sure. Why don’t we have a seat.” I gesture to the couch, andwe both go and sit. Instinctually, I take her hand in mine.“Listen, Ellie, I don’t know how else to tell you this. And,please…please don’t hate me…it was an accident.” I explain,pleading. “Gunner and I were in the barn, and the goddamn receiptfrom the baby outfit fell out of my pocket. Mama saw it, and nowthe whole dang family knows. I’m so sorry, doll. I really…I reallydon’t know what else to say.”
Her facegoes to her palm and she draws in a deep breath.
“I’ll threaten them with their lives if they breathe a word toanyone, and my mama, of course, she’ll be respectful, but I just…incase anything slips out…before I kill any of them, that is…I didn’twant y’all to think that I was the one that went around towntelling people.”
I hearher swallow as I rub her free hand. “I’m so sorry, Ellie.” Irepeat, readying myself to get shown where the door is. Then I hearher sob. “Ellie? Sweetheart? Are you okay?” I ask, now raking ahand through her hair. My voice is soft, and I’m terrified thatshe’s going to hate me.
Shelifts her head. “It’s okay, Maverick.” She leans her head on mychest and I hold her tight. My hands are in her hair as I sway herback and forth, soothing her. She’s crying like a baby and I feellike the biggest piece of shit that ever lived.
“God, I’m so sorry, darlin’. I didn’t mean to hurtyou.”
“You didn’t hurt me, Maverick. Like you said, it was anaccident.” A sniff. “And I know that you’ll do the rightthing.”
“Then, I don’t understand, love.” I kiss her head. “Why areyou so upset?”
Shesobs. “I don’t know.”
I holdher tighter. “Aw, sweet pea. It’s just all them baby hormones doingtheir job.”
“Maybe.” She squeaks through tears.
We sitthere on the couch, hugging, while she cries out the feels. Andthen when I finally get her settled, I rub her back. “I got you apresent.”
Shelifts her head. “Another one?” the ghost of a smile is on herface.
“Get used to it, darlin’. Any woman who’s having my baby’sfixin’ to get showered with gifts.”
A bigsmile. “What did you get me?”
I rise,kissing her head. “I’ll be right back. I wasn’t sure if it would beokay or not, so I didn’t bring it in.”
After Itrot out to my truck and bring the gift back in, she’s sitting onthe couch, waiting. The smile on her face warms my heart. I handher the gift bag and sit next to her on the couch. She peers insideand pulls out the picture frame with a copy of the ultrasound photoin it, a cute little maternity shirt I found in the store next tothe photo frame store, and I added in for good measure, the mostbeautiful necklace I found in the jewellery store. It has a littlegold ‘E’ for a pendant.
“God, Maverick. I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, I was in town, picking up some things for the ranch,and I figure Gunner already knew, and he was with me. I hope thenecklace isn’t too much. I wanted to get you something just foryou, that wasn’t baby-related.”
“No, it’s beautiful. I love it.” She says honestly, holding itin her hand. The diamonds around the ‘E’ are real, but not gawdy.They’re in an elegant yet delicate little pattern, and the necklaceis white gold, not yellow, so she can wear it with everything.Least, that’s what the jeweller said. Ellie leans in and kisses meon the lips. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, darlin’. Now, I won’t get offended if y’allthink it’s too much or you don’t like it.”
