Chapter 21

Maverick stumbled to a halt and turned to see Sterling riding out from the ridge of pines.

He hadn't seen Sterling since he'd left the Nobles' earlier in the week but reckoned his friend hadn't been too worried about him. Maybe Sterling had even been privately relieved to have him away from Hazel.

Maverick pulled himself up to his full height and tried not to lean on the cane, wanting to prove to Sterling that he was still a strong man and worthy of Hazel. Because now that Sterling was here, he may as well have that conversation about Hazel.

Sterling seemed in a hurry, almost jittery, as he rode across the ranch yard.

"Just the person I was coming to see," Maverick called out.

"That so?" Sterling reined in but didn't dismount. Thankfully his expression was friendly enough and the animosity was gone. It might be back soon enough, once Maverick had the chance to speak his piece. But he couldn't let the prospect of harming his friendship with Sterling stop him.

As much as Sterling meant to him, Hazel meant more. Way, way more. So much more that he couldn't live without her and had to see her as soon as possible.

Maverick squared his shoulders. "We need to talk."

Sterling's jaw was covered in the usual layer of scruff, but it was easy to see his friend clamp down hard, as though bracing himself for bad news.

"It's about Hazel."

Sterling shook his head. "Got something I need your help with first."

Maverick opened his mouth to say more about his love for Hazel, but at the sight of the determination in Sterling's eyes, he bit back his words. "What is it?"

"You up for a short ride?"

"Ain't letting anything hold me back from riding."

"That's what I figured."

Maybe he could have that conversation while on the ride. "Where to?"

"Not far."

Leave it to Sterling to be as clear as mud. "Give me a minute to saddle up."

Sterling nodded but didn't say more as Maverick hobbled away. All the while Maverick readied his mount, he tried to plan out what he would tell Sterling. Because one way or another, he was gonna say something about courting Hazel.

Soon he was following Sterling to the west into the foothills behind High C Ranch. They rode one of the trails they'd worn down when they'd been younger and more adventurous.

From behind, Maverick didn't have to hide the grimace of pain that came from every jarring movement. But that also meant he was too intent on holding back the groans to voice what he needed to about Hazel.

They hadn't gone long before Sterling started up a winding incline. It was a familiar climb—one they'd made many times over the years. At the top was a smooth stretch of hilltop that overlooked the Blue River Valley for miles both to the south and north. It was one of the best views of his family's ranch as well as the Noble Ranch.

He and Sterling had spent many a summer night there, stargazing, making plans for the future, and admiring the beauty of the land that they called home. They'd decided to call it Lover's Overlook.

Why was Sterling bringing him out to the overlook today?

"Listen, Sterling," Maverick finally said as they rounded the last switchback. "I need to talk to you about Hazel."

"She's had a bad week, Mav."

Regret slammed into Maverick with such force that his heart bottomed out. "It's all my fault."

"No, it's my fault." Sterling dug his heels into his mount to urge him up the last of the distance.

"I shouldn't have left her the way I did," Maverick called after his friend. "Fact is, as much as I respect you and our friendship, I love Hazel more. And I'm gonna start courting her."

Sterling paused, stared straight ahead, but didn't respond before he nudged his horse onto the ledge, sending a shower of rocks and dirt back down the trail.

Maverick released a groan, one containing not only his pain but his frustration. He knew convincing Sterling to let him have Hazel was gonna be hard, but he'd been hoping Sterling would find it within him to see reason.

Apparently his friend would need more convincing.

Maverick urged his horse up the final ascent. "I know you said to stay away," Maverick said as he bent low over his mount and tried to minimize the jostling as his horse climbed onto the ledge. "And believe me, I've tried. But I can't do it any longer, and I wanna be with her."

Sterling was dismounting already.

Maverick's stomach was tied full of knots, but he pushed forward with what he needed to say. "I'm sorry if you don't approve, but I can't let that hold me back any longer from the woman I love."

"Good," Sterling said over his shoulder.

Good? Maverick reined in his gelding.

Sterling knelt next to what appeared to be a blanket spread out over the grassy area. He opened a basket and began to pull items out. "Glad to hear that you're planning to cooperate. I didn't want to have to beat you up."

Maverick rubbed a hand along the back of his neck to ease the tension there.

Sterling was setting out two fine china plates and silverware.

Maverick's whirling thoughts came to a halt. What was his friend doing?

At Maverick's silence, Sterling sat back on his heels and gave Maverick his full attention, his eyes lined with sadness. "I was a terrible friend and a terrible brother."

"You were?"

"Yes. Just because I'm not able to have happiness with the woman I love—loved—doesn't mean you shouldn't have your happiness."

The conversation wasn't going at all the way Maverick had envisioned. In fact, he wasn't sure what to think. "So you're not opposed to me courting Hazel?"

"Courting her?" One of Sterling's brows cocked. "Yes, I'm opposed to courtship."

"C'mon, Sterling." Maverick's voice held frustration as well as all the passion he felt for Hazel. "Don't know when I fell in love with Hazel, but I did somewhere along the way. She's not only the most beautiful woman I know, but she's the sweetest, kindest, most amazing woman I've ever met."

"Guess she is pretty amazing if she puts up with you." Sterling's voice was serious, but his eyes had begun to crinkle at the corners as though he might smile.

Maverick didn't stop to analyze Sterling's reaction. He plunged forward with saying all that he'd rehearsed. "Hazel's my world, Sterling, and I can't live without her. I don't deserve her. She's too good for a scoundrel like me. But I'm gonna spend my life trying to be worthy of her. Reckon I'll fail at times, but when I do, I'll make it up to her every time and keep on trying to love her as best I can."

Sterling's eyes crinkled even more, and one side of his lips quirked up. "Is that all?"

"I don't need your permission to court her, but I'd sure like it." There, he'd said what he needed to and now crossed his arms.

Sterling ducked his head. Was he hiding a smile?

Maverick opened his mouth to tell Sterling to take him seriously, but before he could get the words out, he took in the arrangement of the blanket, the dishes, the goblets, and the bottle of wine.

He lifted his leg over his saddle and slid down to the ground gingerly, bracing himself with his cane. Was this what he thought it was?

When his gaze drifted back to Sterling, this time his friend was wearing a wide grin. "Did I get all the details the way you wanted?"

Lover's Overlook was the place Maverick had always said he'd propose to his woman when he and Sterling had made their plans so long ago. Maverick hadn't wanted anything fancier than a picnic. He'd always figured the view was grand enough.

Did Sterling really expect him to propose to Hazel here today? He could admit, this was the last thing he'd expected from his friend.

"Like I said, no more courting," Sterling continued. "Even if it wasn't official courting, it was close enough, and a few years is long enough."

Sterling couldn't be serious, could he?

As if reading his thoughts, his friend held out a velvet bag with a drawstring. "You might need this."

Maverick's heart raced forward at double the speed. He took the bag from his friend, opened it, and peeked inside. "How'd you manage this?"

"Had a little help from your sisters."

Maverick replayed the conversation he'd just had with Clarabelle. Had she known what Sterling was up to? Was that why she'd been smiling when he left?

Sterling took out his pocket watch, flipped open the case, and read the time. Then he straightened and stuffed the watch back into his trouser pocket. "You and Hazel have been in love for a long time. I was just too stubborn—and maybe even jealous—to acknowledge it. And I'm sorry."

"I was too stubborn to acknowledge it too."

"Maybe you would have sooner, if not for me."

Maverick shrugged. Most likely he wouldn't have been ready before now, not mature enough to be the kind of selfless man Hazel deserved. Whatever the case, over the past few weeks, he'd finally been ready to admit his love, and now that he'd done so, he couldn't take it back. Doing so would be like trying to trap the Blue River in a bottle.

Sterling grabbed the reins of his horse. "Fact is, Maverick, Hazel adores you. She's so far gone for you I don't think she realizes any other men exist on the earth but you." His voice cracked. "You're blessed to have a woman who loves you like that."

Maverick's chest tightened with all the regrets he had for Sterling and Violet. He knew what Sterling was saying—that Violet had never felt that way about him, and he should have figured that out long before their wedding day.

"I can't—won't—stand in the way of your happiness." Sterling began to climb into his saddle.

"Thank you, Sterling." Maverick cleared his throat of the thick emotion lodging itself there. "I appreciate your blessing."

Sterling straightened himself on his mount, tipped up the brim of his hat, and then peered out over the valley below with the Noble Ranch barns small dots in the distance to the north and High C Ranch buildings closer and more distinct to the south.

He stared for a long moment, drew in a breath, then leveled his gaze on Maverick. "I'm giving you my blessing and then some."

"I appreciate that."

"I'll go get her now." Sterling shifted his horse as though to go, then stopped. "One last thing. You should know she's convinced herself that she doesn't need or want you anymore."

Even though Maverick already suspected as much, the regrets came rushing back. If only he hadn't been such a fool, so stupid, so selfish.

"Reckon I hurt her real bad by leaving her the way I did." Now it was time to clean up his mistake.

Sterling gave a solemn nod. "You'll have your work cut out for you today, my friend. It won't be easy."

"That bad?" Clarabelle's words from earlier resounded through his head. We all make messes at times. Sometimes even big messes. We can walk away from them, or we can roll up our sleeves and clean them up.

"She didn't want me talking to you," Sterling added.

"So she'll be mad if she finds out you were involved?"

"Hopefully, she'll eventually forgive me when she realizes I did it out of love." Without another word, Sterling nudged his horse back toward the trail. Within seconds, he'd started his descent, disappearing from sight.

Once more, Maverick surveyed the blanket, dishes, and basket of food. One emotion filled him more than any other. Fear. Not because he was afraid to propose and get married.

He was afraid that Hazel might say no, just like Violet had to Sterling. And once Hazel said no, how would he stop himself from begging and pleading with her, just like Sterling had with Violet?

The fact was, he wasn't sure if he could accept a no from Hazel any more than Sterling had been able to accept a no from Violet.

But if he coerced her when she wasn't ready—when she harbored hard feelings toward him, when she needed more time—then she'd probably end up feeling as anxious as Violet.

After all, Hazel hadn't once told him she loved him. Course, he'd felt her interest at times. She'd kissed him back with enough passion for him to know something was there. But no doubt Violet had done the same, had maybe even had more feelings for Sterling, and look how that had turned out.

No matter what Sterling had said, maybe today wasn't the right day to propose to Hazel. Instead, he had to rein in his impetuousness and behave responsibly.

Maverick tucked the velvet bag into his trouser pocket and stuffed it deep, then he began to place the dishes back into the basket Sterling had brought up. Today he'd focus on apologizing to Hazel and rebuilding their friendship. There was no sense in rushing anything. Not if she wasn't ready.

Besides, he didn't want her to think he was proposing only because Sterling had dragged him out to do it. No, when he finally asked her to marry him, he wanted her to be certain he was doing it because it was his plan and not Sterling's.

He and Hazel had waited this long. What was a little more time?