Chapter 10

Maverick slept fitfully for a few hours and was up before daybreak to check on the cattle and horses.

He worked with the ranch hands to shovel away some of the snow to open up the grass. Even then, they had to carry out the last of the stored bales of hay for both the cattle and horses.

By the time he finished, the sun was high in the sky and already melting the snow. As he headed back into the barn where they kept most of the mares and the foals, he looked eagerly for Hazel, suddenly famished for the sight of her. Even if she was busy, all he needed was a glimpse of her.

As he made his way through the very full barn where one of the ranch hands was mucking stalls, Maverick tried to make his inquiry of Hazel's whereabouts casual. He didn't want to stir up any gossip about their relationship. He wanted to do things right by her, and for now, he had to keep his feelings under a very tight lock.

He was disappointed to learn Alonzo had come in a sleigh and taken her back home. He didn't understand why Alonzo hadn't been willing to let her work another day, especially knowing she would have been well taken care of at their ranch.

Regardless, Maverick determined to go after her—ride directly to Sterling and lay out all his feelings.

But he got caught up in rescuing several steers that had wandered off and were stuck in a ravine. He and his men worked for several hours to haul the creatures up, and by the time he returned to the ranch, the evening chores were waiting for them.

With the fall of darkness and the treacherous conditions, he reckoned he'd have to wait to see her until daylight. He slept fitfully again, thinking about her all night.

When another day rolled around, he stuck close to the mare barn, waiting for her to arrive with Alonzo. But as the morning passed with no sight of her, his emotions and his body wound too tightly to concentrate on anything else. He wasn't sure how he'd lived for so many years and months without her. Now, after only one day, he was almost desperate for the sight of her.

By midday, he set off for the Noble Ranch, unable to stay away from her a minute longer. After a second day of warm sunshine, the heavy snowfall was already melting away. Although he trekked slowly and had to wade through slush and mud, the two miles were familiar and easy. He'd made the journey back and forth between their ranches hundreds if not thousands of times over the years.

As he passed through the front gate with the wrought-iron Noble Ranch sign hanging overhead, his pulse picked up speed. Even though the breeze was cold, perspiration prickled his back and his forehead. He could admit he was nervous, both at seeing Hazel again and at the prospect of talking with Sterling.

He rode down the path that led toward the barns, taking in the ranch that was much like the Oakleys', except for larger in scope. Mr. Noble had always wanted more and chased after big dreams. Sterling was just like his father with his plans for expansion and his unending need to have and do more.

Maverick didn't have that insatiable need. Although he worked hard and loved what he did, he was content with a simpler life. He didn't have a drive to become the best or greatest or wealthiest at anything.

In fact, the idea of settling down with Hazel and continuing to work the horse farm together was mighty appealing. He actually couldn't think of anything he'd like more. Ma had said they made a good team, and she was usually right about most things.

As the east pasture came into view, Maverick reined in at the sight of Sterling and his ranch hands with dozens and dozens of cattle. The cattle didn't seem worse for the wear, which meant they'd been safely rounded up from wherever they'd been grazing.

The herd consisted mostly of Herefords along with Durham bulls, but Sterling and his father had also started a new breed that was more winter hardy. So far the crossbreeds were doing well, providing a better cut of meat, and buyers were paying a premium for them.

Surrounded by the cattle, the men were pitching hay and grain from several wagons. The Nobles grew several hundred acres of alfalfa hay, had two grain silos for storage, and probably had enough to see them through until June.

Maverick homed in on his best friend—easy to do among the men since Sterling carried himself with a confidence and strength that made him a natural leader. Sterling was also taller and more muscular than the other fellows... and more intimidating.

Maverick hesitated, glancing toward the large Victorian-style house that graced the spread. Painted white and trimmed with black, it was elegant and refined and showcased the Nobles' success, different than the simple, homey cabin that his family had continued to live in, even though they could have built something bigger too.

He swept his gaze over the snow-covered yard, hoping for a glimpse of Hazel. Except for a maid wading through the slush and hanging linens out to dry on a clothes line, no one was in sight.

As much as he wanted to ride on to the house and see Hazel, he had to make amends with Sterling first. Hopefully, in the process, he'd be able to convince Sterling that it was time to do away with the pact they'd made long ago.

Dragging in a deep breath that was filled with the scent of damp earth and cattle, Maverick nudged his horse off the path toward the east pasture. He made it only halfway there before he was spotted. One of the ranch hands noticed him first and said something to Sterling with a nod his direction. Standing in the back of the wagon, Sterling straightened and glared in Maverick's direction, both gloved hands gripping his pitchfork as though he planned to wield it as a weapon.

Maverick slowed his approach. When he was a dozen paces from Sterling, he reined in and nodded. "Sterling."

Sterling's broad shoulders were bent, his face haggard, his demeanor hardened. "Thought I told you I didn't want to see or talk to you again."

"Reckoned we gotta work this out like grown men instead of acting like children."

The other workers had stopped pitching hay amidst the milling steers and were now watching him and Sterling with undisguised interest. No doubt everyone in Summit County and even beyond had heard of him kissing Violet on Sterling's wedding day. And no doubt everyone assumed he was guilty of betraying his best friend.

Maverick cocked his head toward the other workers. "Can we talk privately?"

Sterling didn't respond except to narrow his eyes.

Maverick bit back a sigh. His friend was a stubborn son of a gun and wouldn't make an apology easy, that's for sure. Even so, he wasn't gonna tell Sterling about his love for Hazel with all the fellows listening in. After all, he hadn't even told Hazel yet how he felt. He didn't want her hearing about it through rumors before he had the chance to make his own profession of love.

"I need just a few minutes." Maverick was unwilling to cower or beg for Sterling's time. And if Sterling couldn't respect the need for a private conversation, then he wasn't the man Maverick had come to respect.

Finally, Sterling jammed his pitchfork into the hay and hopped down from the wagon. Without a word, he stalked away from the men, dodging steers and making his way through the thick, heavy snow as if it weren't there.

Maverick slid down from his mount and followed after his friend, leading his horse and going slower.

When they were out of hearing range of the others and away from the cattle, Sterling halted and crossed his arms. "Well?"

The men on the wagons had resumed their work but were casting glances at them, clearly curious. Or maybe hoping for a fight.

The thing was, he and Sterling had never fought. Sure, there had been times when they'd irritated each other—mostly he'd been the one to irritate Sterling. But even those moments had been rare because their temperaments had balanced each other out.

Now, having Sterling peering at him with such animosity felt unnatural.

Maverick slipped off his Stetson. The moment felt too solemn, too grave, to keep it on. "About all that happened—"

"Don't apologize."

"I was just trying to get Violet back in the house—"

"I don't want to hear your excuses." Sterling spun on his heels and started to walk back to the hay wagons.

Maverick took a step after him, frustration rising inside. He had to make Sterling see the truth, had to get him to listen, even if just for a second. He scrambled to find something to say and then blurted the first thing that came to mind. "I love Hazel."

Sterling skidded to a halt in the snow.

Maverick twisted the brim of his hat. "She's the only woman I want." Hopefully his confession would help Sterling to understand that Violet never had been and never would be someone he'd be interested in.

Sterling slowly pivoted. His face was still just as stormy, if not more so.

"Violet doesn't mean anything to me."

Sterling's fists were balled.

Maverick tensed. "Her kiss meant nothin' compared to Hazel's."

"You kissed Hazel?" Sterling's tone turned brittle.

"Just once." Maverick wanted to palm his forehead. Why had he mentioned the kiss? He shouldn't have said anything about it. And maybe he shouldn't have said anything about loving Hazel either.

He could have said he liked her or had feelings for her. At the very least, he could have stuck to the matter of doing away with his and Sterling's pact. But of course, he had to make a mess of the matter.

"It wasn't a long kiss," he hurried to explain. "We fell asleep together, and it sort of just happened."

"You slept with my sister?" Sterling's voice dropped into the deadly zone.

"Not sleep sleep." Blast. Why hadn't he rehearsed what he would say to Sterling? Now he was only making matters go from bad to worse. "We were resting. That's all—"

Before Maverick could finish his statement, Sterling was stomping back toward him, fists raised, fury in his eyes.

Maverick braced himself for a hit. And it came a second later. Sterling's fist slammed into his face, hitting him in the jaw. It was still sore from the last punch there on the wedding day, but Maverick didn't move. And as Sterling wound back to hit him again, Maverick squared his shoulders for another pummeling.

If it would make Sterling feel better to beat him up, then he'd let him.

Sterling held himself rigidly only a foot away. But he didn't take another swing, almost as if he'd sensed Maverick's resignation and didn't want to fight someone who wasn't willing to fight back.

The loathing that had been there on the wedding day was still there along with a heap more of it.

"C'mon, Sterling." Maverick held up his hands in surrender. "I'm mighty sorry for everything that happened last week."

"You're not sorry."

"I am. And I'll do anything to prove it to you."

Sterling lowered his fist, but his whole body remained taut and ready for a brawl. "Anything?"

Maverick hesitated and then tried for a smile. "Well, I ain't gonna rob a bank for you, if that's what you were thinking."

Sterling didn't smile in return.

Maverick's humor faded. "You know I'd take a bullet and die for you if necessary." When they were younger, they'd talked about dying for each other if they ever had to fight in a war together. Though they were older now, Maverick still felt the same way.

Sterling's Stetson cast a dark shadow over his face. "If you want to prove you're sorry, then leave me and my family alone."

Leave him and his family alone? Even Hazel? "That's ridiculous—"

"I knew you wouldn't do it." Sterling spat the words. "Because you're too selfish. Everything has to be about you."

"No it doesn't."

"Then show me." Sterling held his gaze, daring him. "Stay away from Hazel. Far away."

Maverick's insides churned. This was his chance to redeem himself in Sterling's eyes. But what his friend was demanding was too difficult. "There has to be some other way—"

Sterling scoffed. "Don't tell me you'd take a bullet and die for me—"

"I'll do it." He owed it to Sterling to do anything his friend asked of him. Not pursuing Hazel would hurt as much as taking a bullet. And it would definitely be dying to himself and his desires.

Maybe Sterling wasn't being fair to require that kind of sacrifice. But the fact was, Maverick knew he'd had a part in ruining his friend's wedding day and undermining the relationship with Violet. And since he'd caused Sterling the misery of a broken heart, then he oughta be willing to suffer a broken heart now too.

Without waiting for Sterling to say anything else, Maverick mounted and started back the way he'd come. With every jolting step of his horse, the pain of walking away from Hazel jarred him more until his heart felt as though it had been ripped from his chest and thrown into the middle of a cattle stampede.