Page 59 of The Maverick’s Legacy

She’d decided to use her dad’s nickname for their mom as a way to honor both her parents. Her mom instantly teared up, recognizing it.

“Oh, darlin’.” Her mom came over and hugged Carly carefully. “You girls spoil me.”

“I don’t think any of us are going to top that one though,” Amy said before jokingly adding, “Way to show us up, sis.”

“You can always name your next kid after Mom,” Carly returned.

Amy snorted. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Their mom turned to look at Amy, her eyebrows raised. “Do you have something to tell me?”

Amy rolled her eyes. “I’m not pregnant, if that’s what you’re asking. I’d like Josephine to get a little bigger before we try for baby number two.”

“Anyway, thank you for keeping me company today…” Carly said, hoping her family would take the hint.

“Okay, we’ll get out of your hair,” her mom replied. “But you call us if you’re feeling uncomfortable or need anything at all.”

“I will. Thank you both for everything.”

She smiled as she watched them go, but the little joy that their presence had sparked inside her dimmed as she went back to staring out the window.

Rodeo accidents weren’t going to be the death of her.

But Jesse Abernathy very well might be.

There was a knock on the door, and for half a second, she thought it might have been her family returning because they forgot something. A quick glance around showed that nothing was amiss though—no items left behind.

And then, against her better judgment, Carly started to feel hope. Maybe it was Jesse finally coming to check on her. She was back to debating if she wanted to throw herself at him or tell him to take a hike.

Another knock vibrated the door, this one even more insistent than the last. Carly hurried down the hall but paused in front of the hallway mirror to give her hair a quick check. She wouldn’t win any beauty contests at the moment—not with the dark circles under her eyes and the pallor to her skin—but she’d do.

Taking a deep breath, Carly opened the door.

Her jaw dropped at the sight of the man before her.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said with his thick Aussie accent.

“Fletch.”

* * *

Jesse manually sanded the board of his front porch. He needed something to do with his hands.

He couldn’t think. Couldn’t focus.

He ached to see Carly. He felt more and more gutted the longer he stayed away.

As much as he wanted to see her, though, he couldn’t get the image of her lying lifeless on the arena floor. His mind kept playing that moment relentlessly on repeat until he couldn’t breathe.

Jesse needed to sort out his brain before he saw her, or he might just end up begging her to never get on her horse again—a conversation that he knew wouldn’t do either of them any good. Knowing how strong-headed Carly was, she’d probably slam the door in his face if he tried—her resilience was one of the things he loved most about her.

No, he needed to get his crap together before he went out of his mind from not seeing her or touching her to make sure she was alive and well.

A car pulled up to the house, and he looked up in confusion when he saw who it was.

“Hi,” Amy Hawkins said when she got out of the car. “The house is looking good. I always thought this was too pretty a piece of property to not have some life on it.”

Jesse ran down the steps to her. “Is Carly okay? Tell me she’s okay.”