Page 7 of Savage Heart

He’s at the next pump over, and his electric-blue eyes pierce through me. He doesn’t bother to hide his hatred, and he doesn’t speak. He doesn’t have to—his glare says it all. The night Lincoln died, our friendship was over. There have only been a couple of times in the past twelve years that we’ve exchanged words, and it’s never gone well.

But I told Linc I’d speak with someone at Harrington Ranch, and from the gossip I’ve heard at the restaurant, Maverick has been the head honcho over there for a long time now.

“Hi, Maverick,” I say softly.

He blinks. I can tell I’ve caught him by surprise.

I choke back the surplus of feelings that come up every time I even think about Maverick Harrington. Taking a deep breath, I charge on.

“My son has really loved your summer camp program at the ranch.” I swallow again because my voice sounds too shaky. “I wondered if there are any options to not do the whole package . . . like an ‘I could drop off his breakfast and lunch’ kind of thing?”

His head tilts slightly. “He seemed to like our food just fine.” His voice is sharp and growly, so different from the boy I remember.

“Yes, he did like the food . . . very much . . . I just thought it might reduce the fee, so I could maybe afford it.”

I shuffle on my feet. I’d do anything to avoid asking Maverick for a favor, but I care about my son more than my pride. I start to speak, but Maverick clears his throat, and I pause.

“Did you hear about the help we’re needing this year?” He lets out a long sigh, like it grieves him to say this. “If he comes to feed the horses every morning and evening this summer, it’ll cover the camp fee.”

My mouth drops. “Really? The-the whole summer? Uh, no. I hadn’t heard. That’s very . . . generous.”

“It’s an early morning. He’d have to arrive by five thirty, seven days a week, and be around again for the five-thirty feeding at night.”

“Every day?”

“Horses gotta eat every day.” His eyes dare me to argue.

My cheeks flame, and my nails dig into my palms. I’m doing this for Linc, I remind myself.

“Right. Of course. Uh, I’ll have to make sure I could get him there . . . I have work, you know?” My shoulder lifts in an attempt to be nonchalant, but I’m not fooling anyone.

The timing feels impossible, but I need to figure it out. I have to. This offer is too good to refuse.

“There are enough people around the ranch who could give him a ride,” he says.

My eyebrows raise in surprise. “Really? That’s . . . great. Okay, yes. He’ll be there. Thank you.”

Maverick nods, just barely. “Have him there at five thirty Monday morning.”

He turns and gets in his truck, and I’m still standing there as he drives away.

What the hell just happened? That’s the most Maverick and I have spoken in twelve years. The only time he’s ever almost nice has been when Linc is around. I guess he has a soft spot for him.

Linc will be beside himself—this is a dream come true for him. He’s gifted at sports like his dad was, but he’s not passionate about them at all. He’s all about horses.

I get in the car, feeling shaken and triumphant. I can’t wait to tell him.

Now, if I can just avoid seeing Maverick and his family . . . and Lincoln’s mom . . . every day.

That will be a challenge.

I will never understand how a grandmother wouldn’t want anything to do with her grandchild . . . but my own mom never really wanted me either, so I should know better than anyone that life is complicated.

I’ve dealt with worse, living in the same town as all of them.

How bad can one summer be?

Chapter 2: Highlights