Maverick knew what it was to feel that way, as if the weight of your everyday had become too heavy to carry.
When Shannon had left, he’d felt that gaping emptiness and, worse, guilt. As if the pain of abandonment hadn’t been bad enough, every time he’d run into an acquaintance and they’d asked him to give his best to Shannon, he’d had to explain, repeatedly, that she’d left him, and telling peoplethathad felt like sharing his shortcomings with the world over and over again. He’d only been saved by Poppy, who hadn’t given him the opportunity or, quite frankly, the time, to focus on his pain so much.
And, still, despite Nina’s sadness, on the rare occasion she laughed, all he could do was stop what he was doing and listen. Maybe because she seemed so sad all the time, so her laugh, which was bright and quick, threw him off. Maybe because he liked the sound of it, almost as if she had surprised herself with it too. Whatever it was, Mav tried not to overthink it.
As his thoughts circled around her, he raised his eyes and saw her standing in the stall with Barbie, one hand firmly stroking the horse’s neck as she whispered something to the animal.
‘Think she’ll take that horse with her when she leaves?’
Maverick went back to cleaning and oiling the tack as his sister took a seat on the bench opposite him. ‘Maybe. She’s got a soft spot for her.’
‘God knows she has the money to board her in LA.’
Maverick didn’t have anything to say to that. When he looked at Nina, he didn’t see her wealth.
‘Did you need me?’ he asked, knowing Sierra didn’t willingly come down to the barn much anymore.
‘It’s about Nina, actually,’ she replied, lowering her voice.
Mav went on alert instantly, but he didn’t speak, only waited patiently.
‘She’s been putting the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door every day, so housekeeping hasn’t been into her cabin since she arrived.’
Maverick considered that for a moment. ‘It’s not completely unheard of. People like their privacy.’
‘I wouldn’t particularly care if she went the entire stay without changing the sheets once,’ Sierra said. ‘But yesterday she didn’t put the sign on the door. I’m assuming she forgot.’
‘Okay …’
‘Housekeeping said she’s been sleeping in the bathtub, Mav.’
He put down the bridle he was cleaning, angled his head to look at Nina, who had picked up a brush to groom Barbie. In that moment, she looked at peace. Happy. ‘You think she’s afraid?’
‘I do. The bathroom is the only room with a secure lock. The others are more for display …’
It crushed him to think about how she must look every night as she curled up in the bathtub, so small and alone and scared. ‘You sure?’
‘Carmen told me the comforter and pillow were both in there, and that her laptop was shut on the ledge.’ Sierra let that sink in. ‘After Carmen spoke to me, I asked around. Do you know how many times she’s made it up to the resort to eat?’
‘I’m guessing zero?’
‘She’s ordered food to her room three times. That’s it. Three meals total – in five days.’
Maverick sighed. That worry he’d been harbouring reared its ugly head. ‘What do you want me to do?’
‘I need you to talk to her, see if there’s anything we can do to make her feel more comfortable. Christ, Mav, for the price she’s paying for that cabin we could hire an armed wrangler to stand outside at night if it’d make her feel safe.’
‘Yeah.’ But he thought about the impending conversation. ‘You don’t think she’d feel more comfortable talking to you?’
Sierra only raised both her eyebrows. ‘Being a woman and all?’ she drawled sarcastically.
‘It matters,’ he countered quietly. ‘Given what she’s been through, it matters.’
Sierra sighed. ‘Maybe. But rumour has it you two have been spending a lot of time together, and if I were in her position I’d prefer it to come from someone I was at least acquainted with.’
‘Yeah, I’ve been worried about her,’ he admitted.
‘You think he’ll come back?’
