Page 53 of The Maverick’s Legacy

He wrapped an arm around Carly’s waist, and they started to head to the center of the festival. A couple of teens around Oscar’s age came up to them.

“Hey, Oscar,” one of the guys said.

“Hi,” he replied, practically glowing. He looked at his dad and Carly. “This is Jace and Kevin. They’re on the team. Guys, this is my dad and his girlfriend—”

“Carly Hawkins,” the one introduced as Jace said. He grinned at her. “Oscar told us about you and your world records. It’s cool you’re doing Tenacity’s rodeo.”

“Thank you. I’m glad to do it.” Carly felt Jesse’s arm stiffen around her, but when she looked at him, he was staring at the teens. Perhaps he was being overly worried again about his son.

“Some of the guys are about to sumo wrestle,” Kevin told Oscar. “You want to go watch?”

“Oh, I don’t—” Jesse started to say, and Oscar immediately started to tense.

Carly squeezed Jesse’s arm. “That sounds like an amazing time. Oscar, you have your phone on you, right?”

“Yes,” he replied before looking hopefully at his dad.

Jesse let out a breath through his nose. “Fine. But make sure you’re in the arena for Carly’s show.”

“We’ll be there,” Jace told them. “None of us want to miss that.”

Jesse clasped Oscar on the shoulder. “You’d better get going, then. You don’t want to miss your friends wrestling.”

Oscar beamed. He and the other two headed over to where a couple of boys were putting on the inflatable dinosaur costumes.

“You did a good thing, you know,” Carly told Jesse as he eyed Oscar laughing with the other boys.

He gave Carly a sheepish smile. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him this happy. I owe that to you.”

Carly shook her head. “You owe it to yourself. You do an amazing job with him.”

“Thank you.” He caressed her cheek in his hand before giving her another kiss, soft and gentle but both still managing to reach her soul.

They continued to walk through town, taking in the different sights. At one point, she saw Michelle Corey standing in front of a large bouncy house. Above the play station was a banner that read Sponsored by Little Cowpokes Daycare Center. Carly waved at Michelle, and the other woman waved back.

“I want to speak with Michelle really quick,” Carly told Jesse.

“Sure,” he replied.

They walked hand in hand as they made their way over to the woman.

“Hi, Michelle,” Carly said, giving her a brief hug. “Everything looks amazing!”

“It does,” Michelle replied. “I wish I could take credit, but a lot of people put in the work to make this day happen.”

Her eyes settled on a good-looking man who stood on the other side of the lot, texting on his phone, his eyebrows scrunching together.

Michelle sighed before turning her attention back to Carly and Jesse. “Are you ready for the rodeo? I keep hearing people talk about it whenever they walk by or drop off their kids.”

“I am,” Carly affirmed. “Nieve and I have been practicing all week.”

“You’ll do great,” Michelle replied as a little girl with blond curls and a tear-stained face came up to them.

“Ms. Michelle,” the girl said, pulling on the skirt she wore. “Bobby Joe threw a sucker in my hair.”

She turned around, and sure enough, there was a glop of hair stuck to a red wet sucker.

“That kid,” Michelle muttered. “We’ll get this fixed,” she assured the little one.